The effect of motivational learning companions on low achieving students and students with disabilities

Beverly P. Woolf, Ivon Arroyo, Kasia Muldner, Winslow Burleson, David G. Cooper, Robert Dolan, Robert M. Christopherson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

79 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the results of a randomized controlled evaluation of the effectiveness of pedagogical agents as providers of affective feedback. These digital learning companions were embedded in an intelligent tutoring system for mathematics, and were used by approximately one hundred students in two public high schools. Students in the control group did not receive the learning companions. Results indicate that low-achieving students-one third of whom have learning disabilities-had higher affective needs than their higherachieving peers; they initially considered math problem-solving more frustrating, less exciting, and felt more anxious when solving math problems. However, after they interacted with affective pedagogical agents, low-achieving students improved their affective outcomes, e.g., reported reduced frustration and anxiety.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationIntelligent Tutoring Systems - 10th International Conference, ITS 2010, Proceedings
Pages327-337
Number of pages11
EditionPART 1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010
Event10th International Conference on Intelligent Tutoring Systems, ITS 2010 - Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Duration: Jun 14 2010Jun 18 2010

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
NumberPART 1
Volume6094 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Other

Other10th International Conference on Intelligent Tutoring Systems, ITS 2010
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPittsburgh, PA
Period6/14/106/18/10

Keywords

  • Affective feedback
  • Pedagogical agents
  • Special needs populations

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • General Computer Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The effect of motivational learning companions on low achieving students and students with disabilities'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this