Design an empathic virtual human to encourage and persuade learners in e-learning systems

Abstract

Studies indicate that making learners feel good is important only minor to clear knowledge transformation. Many studies have tried to use virtual humans as a part of interface in learning systems to increase the effect of instructions. Based on social interaction and pedagogical theories, many e-learning systems use animated films or virtual reality to boost human-computer engagement and ease their negative emotions. However, affective learning systems still need much research to improve their functionalities and usability. This study proposed a convenient approach to develop an emotionally interactive learning system; learners can express their emotions by mouse-clicking while learning. A virtual human was created to empathically react to learners in proactive and reactive ways to encourage and persuade them into persistent learning and help achieve their goals. Experimental results show that, averagely, subjects can tell virtual human's emotions and agree to its empathic reactions. Persuasion conducted by virtual human could not increase subjects' learning time, but could significantly increase their completion rate of exercises. Copyright 2009 ACM.