This paper describes the Mediating Agent, an animated pedagogical agent inserted in a computational system for distance learning, which has the goal of motivating the student to learn as well as promoting a positive mood in the student, which is more appropriate to learning. In order to accomplish its function, the agent should recognize the student’s emotions to respond appropriately. Thus, it...

This study presents Quantitative Field Observations (QFOs) of educationally relevant affect and behavior among students at three schools using Reasoning Mind, a game-based software system designed to teach elementary-level mathematics. High levels of engagement are observed. Possible causes for these high levels of engagement are considered, including the interactive pedagogical agent and other...

The Bologna Process changes the educational paradigm, to be focus on the student and in the learning outcomes. The majority of e-learning platforms are used as mere repositories of content, based on the classroom paradigm and don’t support the individualism of each student learning process. Through the integration of new pedagogical methodologies based on students learning styles, we present an...

A well-established effect of animated agents in educational and other contexts is their potential to motivate and engage. “Increased motivation in users” is also one of the more frequent answers given to the question, “What is gained by adding an animated pedagogical agent to an intelligent tutoring system?” To further develop and exploit this potential, there are, however, several issues that ...

Blended learning involves the combination of two fields of concern: education and educational technology. To gain the scholarly recognition from educationists, it is necessary to revisit its models and educational theory underpinned. This paper respond to this issue by reviewing models related to blended learning based on two prominent educational theorists, Maslow’s and Vygotsky’s view. Four m...

An electrical test performing involves high risk therefore utility companies require high qualified electricians. Traditionally, training on electrical tests has been based on classroom courses; and recently it has been supported by virtual reality systems. These systems have improved training and reduced training time. However the training still depends on courses schedule and instructors, and...

Incorporating Work Integrated Learning (WIL) into business curriculum has now become a popular way of improving university graduates’ employability. This study provides empirical evidence of the effect of an WIL program designed and implemented through a project on students’ self-efficacy within an accounting information systems course in an Australian business school. Data from a questionnaire...

The aim of this study is to design and develop an interaction model to perform the collaborative teaching process among pedagogical agents. A pedagogical agent has a role in a situation of the teaching process. However, the role is not fixed, but dynamically changed according to the learner's understanding. So, in this paper, we have analyzed the collaborative teaching process between one learn...

The need for change and development in pedagogical approaches in infant classes in Ireland is clearly indicated by a number of recent reports. These reports, reviewed here, present a picture of pedagogy in infant classes as overly formal, insufficiently interactive and incoherent with current knowledge about learning in early childhood. Future developments in early childhood pedagogy will need ...

Despite attempts to encourage greater teacher collegiality, the privacy of the classroom persists. Online communication tools offer opportunities for teachers to overcome these boundaries in professional communities of practice. This study of two cohorts of preservice teachers sought to determine if they were successful in building community in class and online and to examine factors in the too...