Back to the Future of Pedagogical Agents
LOS ANGELES (PRWEB) July 10, 2018 -- The recent paper “Pedagogical Agents: Back to the Future” by Dr. Lewis Johnson of Alelo Inc. and Professor James Lester of North Carolina State University reviews the history and likely future of pedagogical agents, which are autonomous, interactive computer-based characters that engage in rich, face-to-face interactions with learners.
The authors propose that fast-changing workplaces in the global economy require lifelong learning of new skills, which drives the need for more cost-effective learning solutions. Instructor-based learning is cost-prohibitive for most applications, so learning solutions are moving toward digital ecosystems populated by ‘smart’ pedagogical agents based on advances in AI, natural language processing, machine learning, and virtual and augmented reality. A key outcome of this trend will be that pedagogical agents will become learners’ personalized, lifelong companions.
In the big scheme of things, AI-based learning methods are fundamentally transforming the global training and education industry by transcending the traditional boundaries of educational institutions.
The recent paper follows the authors’ groundbreaking paper “Animated Pedagogical Agents: Face-to-Face Interaction in Interactive Learning Environments” published by the International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Learning in 2000. The authors proposed then that pedagogical agents had the potential to engage learners and promote better learning with interactive, humanlike ways such as verbal and nonverbal feedback, gesture, and emotional expressions. The paper’s contributions to learning and education merited its receipt of the prestigious IFAAMAS Award for Influential Papers in Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems in 2017.
This year’s paper presents new predictions and validation of the prediction made 18 years ago that pedagogical agents can measurably improve learning relative to modalities that do not use agents. A key finding is that the effects of pedagogical agents vary greatly depending on subject matter and learner population. For example, role-playing pedagogical agents are highly valuable for learning languages, cultures, and soft skills. An early example of this application is Alelo’s Tactical Language & Culture Training that has been used by tens of thousands American and Australian military members since 2003.
Alelo’s Dr. Johnson will present insights on the value and technology of pedagogical agents during his webinar “How Will AI and Data-Driven Learning Transform the Global Education Industry?” sponsored by the SIIA.
ABOUT ALELO INC.
Alelo creates learning solutions that help people acquire new skills and apply them when it counts, changing the way people communicate. The company has been delivering game-based solutions for learning communication skills using virtual role-play technology since 2003 when it spun out as a DARPA-funded research project from the University of Southern California. Alelo applies its virtual role-play to language and culture learning, communication skills, and other soft skills. Alelo’s cloud-based Enskill learning platform is in use in over 20 countries. alelo.com
Lewis Johnson, Alelo Inc., http://www.alelo.com, +1 310-574-7500, [email protected]
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