The Roles of Animated Pedagogical Agents’ Presence and Nonverbal Communication in Multimedia Learning Environments

Author(s):  
Casey Frechette ◽  
Roxana Moreno

We examined how the presence and nonverbal communication of an animated pedagogical agent affects students’ perceptions and learning. College students learned about astronomy either without an agent’s image or with an agent under one of the following conditions: a static agent (S), an agent with deictic movements (D), an agent with facial expressions (E), or an agent with both deictic movements and facial expressions (DE). Group S outperformed group E on a comprehension test, but no other differences were found on students’ learning or perceptions. The results show that the presence of the studied agent – regardless of nonverbal abilities – did not produce at least a moderate effect size. Further, a static version of the agent was preferable to one with only facial expressions.

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 701-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rex P. Bringula ◽  
Ian Clement O. Fosgate ◽  
Neil Peter R. Garcia ◽  
Josf Luinico M. Yorobe

This experimental study investigated the effects of the use of two versions of a pedagogical agent named personal instructing agent (PIA) on the mathematics performance of students. The first version exhibits synthetic facial expressions while the second version does not exhibit facial expression (i.e., neutral facial expression). Two groups of students with the same levels of prior knowledge in mathematics utilized two different versions of PIA. The first group—the facial group—utilized a PIA that provides textual and facial expressions feedback (happy, sad, surprise, and neutral facial expressions). The second group—the nonfacial group—used the same software except that PIA only exhibited neutral facial expression. The study showed that the mathematics scores of the students in the facial group significantly improved as compared with those who are in the nonfacial group. The posttest scores of the facial group were found significantly higher than those of the nonfacial group. The study showed that PIA that exhibited synthetic facial expressions improved students’ mathematics learning. It is concluded that synthetic facial expressions and textual feedback of pedagogical agent can be utilized to help students learn to solve mathematics problems. Limitations and recommendations are also presented.


1998 ◽  
Vol 83 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1299-1306 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Hines ◽  
Amelia C. Fretz ◽  
Nicole L. Nollen

Recent reports show an increase in smoking among college students and suggest that occasional smoking is now initiated by previously nonsmoking students This study evaluated whether this apparent increase in smoking by students is associated with positive self-images associated with smoking. Regular and occasional smokers rated how smoking “changes the way you feel about yourself” on 18 self-attributes that may be associated with smoking, e.g., from cigarette advertisements. Nonsmokers also rated smokers on the same 18 attributes All three groups rated three attributes in the negative direction with at least a moderate effect size: that being a smoker was less healthy, that smokers were less desirable as a date and that smokers were less attractive while smoking. On only one other attribute regular smokers differed from neutral with at least a moderate effect size: that smoking made them feel less feminine. As hypothesized, the occasional smokers also rated some attributions positively with at least a moderate effect size: that smoking made them feel more daring and more adventurous and did not make them feel like an outcast. The non-smokers rated a number of additional attributes about smokers negatively with at least a moderate effect size: that smokers are less sexy, less feminine less sophisticated, less masculine, and less mature. Thus, the results suggest that smoking shows at best mixed associations with self-attributions of college students who smoke and is viewed negatively by those who do not smoke. Other results suggest that the recent increase in occasional smoking may be related to smoking with friends who smoke and smoking while drinking alcohol.


1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 303-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne D. Parker ◽  
Karen K. Adkins

Using the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Frost, Martin, Lahart, & Rosenblate, 1990) measures of perfectionism in a group of 90 Honors College students and 95 more typical peers were compared. Honors College students received significantly higher scores with a moderate effect size on the subscales of Concern Over Mistakes, Personal Standards, Parental Expectations, and the total score of overall perfectionism. This result is in contrast to recent findings of no difference in perfectionism scores between gifted and typical younger students. It is unclear if the finding of elevated perfectionism among Honors College students is indicative of predisposition to maladjustment or is a healthy component of the pursuit of academic excellence among the highly able.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy M. Hamm ◽  
Raymond P. Perry ◽  
Judith G. Chipperfield ◽  
Patti C. Parker ◽  
Jutta Heckhausen

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 4390
Author(s):  
Carlos Sosa ◽  
Alberto Lorenzo ◽  
Juan Trapero ◽  
Carlos Ribas ◽  
Enrique Alonso ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was (I) to establish absolute specific velocity thresholds during basketball games using local positional system (LPS) and (II) to compare the speed profiles between various levels of competitions. The variables recorded were total distance (TD); meters per minute (m·min); real time (min); maximum speed (Km h−1), distance (m), percentage distance, and percentage duration invested in four speed zones (standing–walking; jogging; running; and high-speed running). Mean and standard deviation (±SD) were calculated, and a separate one-way analysis of variance was undertaken to identify differences between competitions. TD (3188.84 ± 808.37 m) is covered by standing–walking (43.51%), jogging (36.58%), running (14.68%), and sprinting (5.23%) activities. Overall, 75.22% of the time is invested standing–walking, jogging (18.43%), running (4.77%), and sprinting (1.89%). M·min (large effect size), % duration zone 2 (moderate effect size); distance zone 4 (large effect size), and % distance zone 4 (very large effect size) are significantly higher during junior than senior. However, % distance zone 1 (large effect size) and % duration zone 1 (large effect size) were largely higher during senior competition. The findings of this study reveal that most of the distance and play time is spent during walking and standing activities. In addition, the proportion of time spent at elevated intensities is higher during junior than in senior competition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 230-242
Author(s):  
Bulut Atay ◽  
Evren Sumuer

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the components of college students' readiness for connectivist learning in technology-enhanced learning environments through the development of the readiness for connectivist learning scale (RCLS).Design/methodology/approachAfter the constructs of the scale had been identified, their items were created based on the relevant literature. In order to ensure the content validity of the items, a sorting procedure was implemented and they were reviewed by experts in the field. The construct validity of the scale was tested using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with data from 718 students from a university in Turkey.FindingsThe findings of the current study indicated a four-factor solution, which includes information and communication technology (ICT) self-efficacy (seven items), autonomous learning (seven items), information literacy (eight items) and learning networks (five items). A significant, strong and positive correlation of students' scores on the RCLS with those of the online learning readiness scale (Hung et al., 2010) supported the criterion-related validity of the scale. The value of Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the RCLS showed good reliability for the scale.Originality/valueWith the assessment of college students' readiness level for connectivist learning, it is possible for them to anticipate their success in connectivist learning environments themselves and thereby to improve the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for their success in these environments.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jimena Gonzalez-Ramirez ◽  
Kerri Mulqueen ◽  
Ruth Zealand ◽  
Sara Silverstein ◽  
Christine Reina ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-253
Author(s):  
Aurel Muraru

"Facial expressions can be regarded as an accurate reflection of the inner emotions people manifest towards the surrounding reality, filtered through their own emotional „strainer”. The source of these feelings lies not only in external influences, but also in a man's own thoughts, experiences, level of education and culture, as well as the degree of development of their own volitional and emotional capacities, in which muscle movements are merely just a simple mechanical means of rendering. The entire array of facial expressions acts as a unitary system which does nothing but complete the movements of the conductor's hands, filling them with meaning. We can say that this type of communication represents a way of combining the most delicate, vibrant, profound, and subtle feelings. It would be impossible to imagine that the movement of the arms, unsupported by the expression of the eyes and face or by the position of the body, were able to express a large array of emotions (joy, pain, sadness, rage, fear, surprise, or confidence) accurately and unequivocally. Keywords: facial expressions, mimicry, nonverbal communication, conductor, performance. "


Author(s):  
LUIZA MARABYAN

LUIZA MARABYAN - GENDER FEATURES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION IN TELEVISED POLITICAL DEBATES The paper examines gender characteristics in nonverbal communication during televised political debates. Nonverbal communication plays an important role in the process of human interaction. Means of nonverbal communication as a kind of language of feelings are the same product of social development as the language of words. Among such means are facial expressions, views, postures, gestures, touches, behavior in the surrounding space. All these types of nonverbal messages interact, sometimes complementing each other, sometimes contradicting each other.


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