Training Effects of Adaptive Emotive Responses From Animated Agents in Simulated Environments

Humans are distinct from machines in their capacity to emote, stimulate, and express emotions. Because emotions play such an important role in human interactions, human-like agents used in pedagogical roles for simulation-based training should properly reflect emotions. Currently, research concerning the development of this type of agent focuses on basic agent interface characteristics, as well as character building qualities. However, human-like agents should provide emotion-like qualities that are clearly expressed, properly synchronized, and that simulate complex, real-time interactions through adaptive emotion systems. The research conducted for this dissertation was a quantitative investigation using 3 (within) x 2 (between) x 3 (within) factorial design. A total of 56 paid participants consented to complete the study. Independent variables included emotion intensity (i.e., low, moderate, and high emotion), levels of expertise (novice participant versus experienced participant), and number of trials. Dependent measures included visual attention, emotional response towards the animated agents, simulation performance score, and learners\u27 perception of the pedagogical agent persona while participants interacted with a pain assessment and management simulation. While no relationships were indicated between the levels of emotion intensity portrayed by the animated agents and the participants\u27 visual attention, emotional response towards the animated agent, and simulation performance score, there were significant relationships between the level of expertise of the participant and the visual attention, emotional responses, and performance outcomes. The results indicated that nursing students had higher visual attention during their interaction with the animated agents. Additionally, nursing students expressed more neutral facial expression whereas experienced nurses expressed more emotional facial expressions towards the animated agents. The results of the simulation performance scores indicated that nursing students obtained higher performance scores in the pain assessment and management task than experienced nurses. Both groups of participants had a positive perception of the animated agents persona

The (Re) adaptability of Research Methodologies in the Instructional Design & Technology Field

In its revolutionary piece, On The Origin of Species, Darwin (1859) provided compelling evidence for the existence of the natural selection process. He described how species interact with their environments to cause variations in traits. Just like the species that Darwin explored in his research, the methodologies used in investigations related to the instructional design and technology (IDT) field have (re)adapted. This (re)adaptability serves to help us better inquire and explore the landscape of formal and informal educational learning environments available today

Uma Análise de Currículo de Mídias Sociais para Cursos de Ensino e Aprendizagem

The purpose of this syllabus analysis was to explore the structure of courses focused on social media and geared toward education professionals. Fourteen-course syllabi from institutions located within the United States (U.S.) were analyzed as part of this investigation. The results of the analysis revealed a total of 46 unique topic themes across the different courses. The findings show that the most common course objectives aimed to encourage the application and practice of social media as part of a learning experience and the learners’ professional practice. In total, the syllabi listed 67 unique required readings including non-peer-reviewed publications, peer-reviewed journal articles, and textbooks. Last, the analysis of the assignments listed in the syllabi shows that in these social media courses, there was a mix of traditional and non-traditional assessment methods. These non-traditional assessment methods focused on integrating social media as part of the assessment in which learners were required to create a social media account, become familiar with it, and create learning experiences incorporating a specific social media platform.  Keywords: Teaching and learning. Social media in higher education. Curriculum Analysis.O objetivo desta análise de currículo foi explorar a estrutura de cursos voltados para mídias sociais e voltados para profissionais da Educação. Catorze programas de cursos de instituições localizadas dentro dos Estados Unidos (EUA) foram analisados como parte desta investigação. Os resultados da análise revelaram um total de 46 temas únicos nos diferentes cursos. Os achados mostram que os objetivos do curso mais comuns visavam incentivar a aplicação e a prática das mídias sociais como parte de uma experiência de aprendizagem e da prática profissional dos alunos. No total, o programa listou 67 leituras exclusivas exigidas, incluindo publicações não revisadas por pares, artigos de revistas revisados por pares e livros didáticos. Por último, a análise das atribuições listadas no currículo mostra que, nesses cursos de mídia social, houve uma mistura de métodos de avaliação tradicionais e não tradicionais. Esses métodos de avaliação não tradicionais se concentraram na integração das mídias sociais como parte da avaliação na qual os alunos eram obrigados a criar uma conta de mídia social, familiarizar-se com ela e criar experiências de aprendizagem incorporando uma plataforma específica de mídia social.   Palavras-chave:  Ensino e aprendizagem. Mídias sociais no ensino superior. Análise de Currículo.

Examining Distance Learners in Hybrid Synchronous Instruction: Successes and Challenges

This paper reports on a case study investigating distance learners participating in graduate-level hybrid synchronous instruction. This research helps inform the design of hybrid synchronous instruction in which face-to-face and distance learners engage in class sessions. Data were collected using electronic journals, individual interviews, and a focus group. The results of the data analysis provide evidence that in this case, hybrid synchronous instruction improved the study habits of distance learners. On the other hand, the case study results also revealed that there are challenging pedogogical aspects which the distance learners had to overcome during hybrid synchronous instruction. Among such challenges were the interactions, relationships, and communication exchanges between distance learners, their face-to-face counterparts, and the instructor

Nursing Pain Assessment & Management: A 3D Interactive Simulation

In this design case, a team developed a 3D interactive simulation for nursing students and professional nurses to train and practice pain assessment and management procedures. In the simulation environment, the trainees interact with three emotionally expressive animated patients. The three patients vary in their ethnicity, age, and emotion intensity. Successful completion of the scenario requires that the trainee perform of a series of pain assessment and management tasks. The trainee is evaluated on the efficiency and appropriate sequencing of the tasks. The purpose of this paper is to describe the decisions made regarding the type of virtual patients used, the clickable objects, the pain assessment interview protocol, the visual representations in the simulation and the web portal. The paper also provides insight into the processes and steps taken during the design and development phases of this 3D interactive simulation including: the tasks analyses, motion capture, validation of the animations in the simulation, programming, and other tasks

Speculative futures on ChatGPT and generative artificial intelligence (AI): a collective reflection from the educational landscape

While ChatGPT has recently become very popular, AI has a long history and philosophy. This paper intends to explore the promises and pitfalls of the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) AI and potentially future technologies by adopting a speculative methodology. Speculative future narratives with a specific focus on educational contexts are provided in an attempt to identify emerging themes and discuss their implications for education in the 21st century. Affordances of (using) AI in Education (AIEd) and possible adverse effects are identified and discussed which emerge from the narratives. It is argued that now is the best of times to define human vs AI contribution to education because AI can accomplish more and more educational activities that used to be the prerogative of human educators. Therefore, it is imperative to rethink the respective roles of technology and human educators in education with a future-oriented mindset

A Syllabi Analysis of Social Media for Teaching and Learning Courses

The purpose of this syllabi analysis was to explore the structure of courses focused on social media and geared towards education professionals. Fourteen course syllabi from institutions located within the United States (U.S) were analyzed as part of this investigation. The results of the analysis revealed a total of 46 unique topic themes across the different courses. The findings show that the most common course objectives aimed to encourage application and practice of social media as part of a learning experience and the learners’ professional practice. In total, the syllabi listed 67 unique required readings including: non-peer reviewed publications, peer-reviewed journal articles, and textbooks. Last, the analysis of the assignments listed in the syllabi show that in these social media courses, there were a mix of traditional and non-traditional assessment methods. These non-traditional assessment methods focused on integrating social media as part of the assessment in which learners were required to create a social media account, become familiar with it, and create learning experiences incorporating a specific social media platform