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Extending an Educational Math Game with a Pedagogical Conversational Agent: Facing Design Challenges

Sjödén, Björn LU ; Silvervarg, Annika ; Haake, Magnus LU and Gulz, Agneta LU (2011) Conference on Interdisciplinary Research on Technology, Education and Communication 126. p.116-130
Abstract
We describe our work-in-progress of developing an educational game in mathematics for 12-14 year olds, by adding social and conversational abilities to an existing “teachable agent” (TA) in the game. The purpose of this extension is to affect cognitive, emotional and social constructs known to promote learning, such as self-efficacy and engagement, as well as enhancing students’ experiences of interacting with the agent over an extended period of time. Drawing from the EnALI framework, which states practical design guidelines, we discuss specific design challenges and exemplify research considerations as to developing the agent’s visual representation and conversational module. We present some initial findings from using prototype agents... (More)
We describe our work-in-progress of developing an educational game in mathematics for 12-14 year olds, by adding social and conversational abilities to an existing “teachable agent” (TA) in the game. The purpose of this extension is to affect cognitive, emotional and social constructs known to promote learning, such as self-efficacy and engagement, as well as enhancing students’ experiences of interacting with the agent over an extended period of time. Drawing from the EnALI framework, which states practical design guidelines, we discuss specific design challenges and exemplify research considerations as to developing the agent’s visual representation and conversational module. We present some initial findings from using prototype agents with students from the target group. Promising developments seem to reside in pronouncing the agent’s personality traits and expanding its knowledge database, particularly its range of conversational topics. Finally we propose some future studies and research directions. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
pedagogical agents, conversational agents, teachable agents, social learning, educational game, EnALI
host publication
Communications in Computer and Information Science
volume
126
pages
116 - 130
publisher
Springer
conference name
Conference on Interdisciplinary Research on Technology, Education and Communication
conference dates
2010-05-25 - 2010-05-27
external identifiers
  • wos:000297605400010
  • scopus:80053124907
ISSN
1865-0929
ISBN
978-3-642-20073-1
project
Thinking in Time: Cognition, Communication and Learning
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bc2d8dfa-768b-446d-b68e-1273a750df93 (old id 1659075)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:49:58
date last changed
2022-02-26 23:20:59
@inproceedings{bc2d8dfa-768b-446d-b68e-1273a750df93,
  abstract     = {{We describe our work-in-progress of developing an educational game in mathematics for 12-14 year olds, by adding social and conversational abilities to an existing “teachable agent” (TA) in the game. The purpose of this extension is to affect cognitive, emotional and social constructs known to promote learning, such as self-efficacy and engagement, as well as enhancing students’ experiences of interacting with the agent over an extended period of time. Drawing from the EnALI framework, which states practical design guidelines, we discuss specific design challenges and exemplify research considerations as to developing the agent’s visual representation and conversational module. We present some initial findings from using prototype agents with students from the target group. Promising developments seem to reside in pronouncing the agent’s personality traits and expanding its knowledge database, particularly its range of conversational topics. Finally we propose some future studies and research directions.}},
  author       = {{Sjödén, Björn and Silvervarg, Annika and Haake, Magnus and Gulz, Agneta}},
  booktitle    = {{Communications in Computer and Information Science}},
  isbn         = {{978-3-642-20073-1}},
  issn         = {{1865-0929}},
  keywords     = {{pedagogical agents; conversational agents; teachable agents; social learning; educational game; EnALI}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{116--130}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  title        = {{Extending an Educational Math Game with a Pedagogical Conversational Agent: Facing Design Challenges}},
  volume       = {{126}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}