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Enhancing Education with Avatars: The Power of Animated Pedagogical Agents

Avatars, also known as animated pedagogical agents (APAs), are animated characters used as teachers or instructors in educational settings. They range from simple 2D representations to complex 3D animations, enabling a visually engaging learning experience. Tools like MyWebFace and Voki allow for easy creation and voice integration for personalized avatars. Avatars can enhance student motivation and provide visual stimulation, fostering a consistent learning message. Understanding biases related to avatar appearance can also enrich students' educational experiences.

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Enhancing Education with Avatars: The Power of Animated Pedagogical Agents

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  1. Emerging Technologies: AvatarsBy: Hanna Kramerand Shari Bowden

  2. Avatars: What are They? • Avatars are animated characters which serve as a teacher or instructor • Also called animated pedagogical agent (APA) • The degree of animation varies: some have few facial expressions; some are complete 3D full body animations.

  3. SIMPLE: MyWebFace • The simplest version of an avatar can be created at mywebface.com. This is intended to be as close to a representation of you as possible. No real animation but can create different versions with expressions based on anger, confusion, etc. It is free. This is Shari’s lifelike avatar. ONE ADVANTAGE: avatars always have good hair days! This is sad Shari.

  4. Easy To Add Voice • Create avatar then add a voice by converting text, recording, or adding audio files • It is easy to add voice. An demo of how simple it is can be found here: www.oddcast.com/home/demos/tts/tts_example.php • Creates a file for sharing via social media, e-mail, etc. • It’s FREE – good for student projects and presentations.

  5. Voki.com • http://voki.com/ • Voki is an easy to use website which specializes in creating avatars specifically to use in an educational setting • Here is an example of an avatar of Hanna with voice: http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=8292282&height=267&width=200 • Avatars can be created in under 5 minutes • Voki.com offers sample lesson plans for various grades and topics which provide formats of how to use avatars in the classroom

  6. Full Animation • Full animation is more complex and generally, more costly. • Associated with computer-based learning platform • Studies show increased student motivation when empathy is shown by avatar. • Avatar-narrated videos are possible to create at: http://www.livingactor.com/Presenter/demo

  7. Example in Computer-Based Learning

  8. Uses in training and education • Industrial setting: getting a consistent message to a large number of people. (new technology increased interest in the materials) • Student projects – students don’t have to stand in front of class and present • Embed in blogs and websites • Computer-based learning is enhanced by avatars teaching the classes

  9. Benefits of avatars in education • Avatars can replace the need for a teacher to be present at a lesson, yet still offer a similar visual stimulation. • Avatars offer the opportunity of having a variety of cartoon-like figures (Voki.com has the option of animal or celebrity avatars) teaching lessons which could enhance attentiveness amongst students. • Computer-based learning can be more visually stimulating with the use of an avatar in place of the instructor.

  10. Avatars and biases • Studies show that the gender and ethnicity of avatars affect student’s assessments of the ability of the virtual teacher (Beck, 2012). • Students can have the same expectations of a teacher who is physically present or of the animated representation of the teacher. • This knowledge can be used to educate students about inaccurate biases they unknowingly possess.

  11. ASSURE Model • A- Analyze Learners • S- State Objectives • S- Select Methods, Media, and Materials • U- Utilize Media, Materials, and Methods • R- Require Learner Participation • E- Evaluate & Revise

  12. References • Chin, G., Lee, J., Wang, C., Chao, P., Li, L., and Lee, T.Y. (2011). An empathic avatar in a computer-aided learning program to encourage and persuade learners. Educational Technology and Society, 15(2), 62-72. • Beck, D. (2012). The influence of gender and ethnicity of student avatars on teacher’s expectations and perceptions. International Journal of Gaming and Computer Mediated Simulations, 4(1), 1-24.

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