Systematic Review of Intelligent Tutoring Systems for Hard Skills Training in Virtual Reality Environments

Advances in immersive virtual reality (I-VR) technology have allowed for the development of I-VR learning environments (I-VRLEs) with increasing fidelity. When coupled with a sufficiently advanced computer tutor agent, such environments can facilitate asynchronous and self-regulated approaches to learning procedural skills in industrial settings. In this study, we performed a systematic review of published solutions involving the use of an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) to support hard skills training in an I-VRLE. For the seven solutions that qualified for the final analysis, we identified the learning context, the implemented system, as well as the perceptual, cognitive, and guidance features of the utilized tutoring agent. Generally, the I-VRLEs emulated realistic work environments or equipment. The solutions featured either embodied or embedded tutor agents. The agents’ perception was primarily based on either learner actions or learner progress. The agents’ guidance actions varied among the solutions, ranging from simple procedural hints to event interjections. Several agents were capable of answering certain specific questions. The cognition of the majority of agents represented variations on branched programming. A central limitation of all the solutions was that none of the reports detailed empirical studies conducted to compare the effectiveness of the developed training and tutoring solutions.Peer reviewe

A Design Proposition for Interactive Virtual Tutors in an Informed Environment

International audienceThis paper introduces a new research work that aims to improve embodied conversational agents with tutor behavior by endowing them with the capability to generate feedback in pedagogical interactions with learners. The virtual agent feedback and the interpretation of the user's feedback are based on the knowledge of the environment (informed virtual environment), the interaction and the pedagogical strategies structured around classical intelligent tutoring system models. We present our first steps to implement our proposed architecture based on a model of informed virtual environment. We also describe the ideas that will guide the design of the Tutor Behavior. The planned evaluation method and a first application are also presented