Critiquing media reports with flawed scientific findings: Operation ARIES! A game with animated agents and natural language trialogues

Abstract

Operation Aries! is a computer environment that helps students learn about scientific methods and inquiry. The system has several components designed to optimize learning and motivation, such as game features, animated agents, natural language communication, trialogues among agents, an eBook, multimedia, and formative assessment. The present focus is on a Case Study learning module that involves critiquing reports of scientific findings in news media that have flawed scientific methodology. After the human student lists the methodological flaws of a Case Study in natural language, a teacher agent and a peer agent hold a trialogue with the student that evaluates each listed flaw and that uncovers additional flaws that that student missed. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.