User:NishathaNandy/animated pedagogical agent

Animated pedagogical agents (APA) are believable, lifelike characters designed to create rich, face to face interactions in computer based environments. The most advanced APAs inform and advice students and even adapt to the learner inputs by having their behavior conditioned according to the actions the learner takes. The APAs vary in their sophistication and design but share the quality of having a strong visual and auditory presence in an interactive computer based environment and assist in the advancement of learning.

== APAs as a help for students to construct knowledge from interactive multimedia games

APAs can take two roles in enhancing student learning as per the cognitive-affective personality system of learning with media. A motivational role in which the agent enhances the learning by making learning experiences more interesting and the second is a cognitive role in which the agent facilitates the cognitive processes involved in attaching meaning to the learning. APAs promote leaning by providing explanation and feedback in the process of knowledge construction.

multimedia game scenario

The APAs assist in learning in game based scenarios interactive multimedia in three ways:

Students take more interest in learning because of the strong visual and auditory presence of the agent.
Due to the interactive feature of the game environments, the students learn by discovery method which facilitates better learning.
The APAs provide guidance or explanatory feedback on the choices the students make, thus the students are able to construct knowledge.

Animated properties of APAs that assist in learning

The animated property of APAs have three major functions:

Divert student attention to relevant portions of the screen by the use of deictic gestures, like hand movements, gaze etc.
to present complex information by facial expressions or body movements which will be complicated to learn by verbal explanations alone.
engage students by arousing interest through strong verbal and auditory presence.

Animated property of APA can negatively effect learning

Animated representation of the agent may lead to cognitive overload or distraction by adding interesting but irrelevant material to the lesson. It may also reduce the learning outcomes when the student has to split attention between the agent and other graphics on the screen which are essential to concept formation.

References

L, Richard (2008). Learning with Animation: Animated Pedagogical Agents. New York: Cambridge University Press