Distance Learning and EducationDistance Learning and EducationCenter for Advanced Research in Center for Advanced Research in

Technology for EducationTechnology for EducationLewis Johnson, Ph.D., DirectorLewis Johnson, Ph.D., Director

Erin Shaw, presenterErin Shaw, presenterResearch Scientist,Research Scientist, CARTE, USC Information Sciences InstituteCARTE, USC Information Sciences Institute

Adjunct Lecturer, Distance Education NetworkAdjunct Lecturer, Distance Education Network

Research @ USC ISIResearch @ USC ISI

Information Sciences InstituteInformation Sciences Institute

USC Viterbi School of Engineering (>300 researchers, students, USC Viterbi School of Engineering (>300 researchers, students, staff)staff)

R&D advanced computer and communication technologiesR&D advanced computer and communication technologies

Intelligent Systems Division (Artificial Intelligence)Intelligent Systems Division (Artificial Intelligence)

RoboticsRobotics Knowledge systems Knowledge systems Natural language understandingNatural language understanding Machine translation Machine translation Virtual humansVirtual humans Intelligent agentsIntelligent agents@ Center for Advanced Research in Technology for Education (CARTE)@ Center for Advanced Research in Technology for Education (CARTE)

CARTECARTE

Erin Shaw, Research Computer Erin Shaw, Research Computer Scientist Scientist

Joined 1995Joined 1995 Participated in development of Participated in development of

first Distance Education course first Distance Education course at USC, at USC, Introduction to CinemaIntroduction to Cinema

Prior to joining ISIPrior to joining ISI Digital library researcherDigital library researcher

Cornell University, New YorkCornell University, New York Computer graphics engineer Computer graphics engineer

MIT startup company, BostonMIT startup company, Boston Math and science teacherMath and science teacher

US Peace Corps, NepalUS Peace Corps, Nepal

W. Lewis Johnson, DirectorW. Lewis Johnson, Director

Pedagogical agentsPedagogical agents

Interact with students in learning environmentsInteract with students in learning environments Engage in instructional dialogueEngage in instructional dialogue Assess learner knowledge Assess learner knowledge Model skills being taughtModel skills being taught

AddressAddress Motivational factorsMotivational factors

Control, curiosity, challenge, confidenceControl, curiosity, challenge, confidence

Cognitive factorsCognitive factorsGoals, inquiry & explanation, interactive problem solvingGoals, inquiry & explanation, interactive problem solving

Enhance motivation and interestEnhance motivation and interest

Typical systemTypical system

Agent (reasoning engine) Agent (reasoning engine)

Agent Persona Agent Persona

Simulation Interactive exercise

(e.g. Flash animation, Java Applets)

Simulation Interactive exercise

(e.g. Flash animation, Java Applets)

Research itemsResearch items

VFTS (Virtual Factory Teaching VFTS (Virtual Factory Teaching System)System)

CourseCourse Operations Scheduling in Manufacturing, Production and Operations Scheduling in Manufacturing, Production and

Inventory ManagementInventory Management

Gives hands-on experience running a virtual Gives hands-on experience running a virtual factoryfactory

Deliver over the InternetDeliver over the Internet

Provide on-line monitoring and assistanceProvide on-line monitoring and assistance Intelligent agents monitor student progress and provide Intelligent agents monitor student progress and provide

immediate feedbackimmediate feedback

VFTS simulation (scheduling work)VFTS simulation (scheduling work)

Digital Puppets (Elementary grades)Digital Puppets (Elementary grades)

Clinical PracticeClinical Practice

Agent embedded in interactive 2D ‘game’Agent embedded in interactive 2D ‘game’

Supports medical and dentistry casesSupports medical and dentistry cases Users typically first year graduate students Users typically first year graduate students

Assists students in learning best practicesAssists students in learning best practices Features virtual patientFeatures virtual patient Ask questions based on historyAsk questions based on history Order labs and x-raysOrder labs and x-rays Score based on type and order of procedures Score based on type and order of procedures

performedperformed

(Demo Adele, Agent for Distance Learning Envs., Dentistry, 1.5m)(Demo Adele, Agent for Distance Learning Envs., Dentistry, 1.5m)

Trauma care Trauma care

Introduction to clinical medicineIntroduction to clinical medicine

Geriatric dentistryGeriatric dentistry

Pedagogical DramaPedagogical Drama

Agent integrated into 2D animated ‘story’Agent integrated into 2D animated ‘story’

Part of BRIGHT IDEAS social work programPart of BRIGHT IDEAS social work program Users typically mothers of children with cancerUsers typically mothers of children with cancer

Assists students in learning coping skillsAssists students in learning coping skills Identify with a characterIdentify with a character Choose character’s thoughts and decisionsChoose character’s thoughts and decisions Experiment with different paths (branching)Experiment with different paths (branching)

(Demo Carmen’s Bright Ideas 1.5/3m)(Demo Carmen’s Bright Ideas 1.5/3m)

Carmen’s Bright IdeasCarmen’s Bright Ideas

Carmen’s Bright IdeasCarmen’s Bright Ideas

LanguageLanguage Training Training

Agents embedded in 3D virtual gameAgents embedded in 3D virtual game

Focus on language and communication skills Focus on language and communication skills trainingtraining Users typically military personnelUsers typically military personnel Practice language and gestural skillsPractice language and gestural skills Contextual problem-solving in mission-based scenarioContextual problem-solving in mission-based scenario Game score based on performanceGame score based on performance

(Demo Tactical Language 3m)(Demo Tactical Language 3m)

Tactical LanguageTactical Language

Leadership TrainingLeadership Training

Agents embedded in interactive 3D environmentAgents embedded in interactive 3D environment

Focus on leadership trainingFocus on leadership training Users typically military personnelUsers typically military personnel Practice decision-making in contextPractice decision-making in context Ethical conflicts in mission-based scenarioEthical conflicts in mission-based scenario Scored by human observerScored by human observer

(Demo Mission Rehearsal 1.5m)(Demo Mission Rehearsal 1.5m)

Mission Rehearsal ExerciseMission Rehearsal Exercise

Behind the scenesBehind the scenes

2D simulations were produced with modest NSF- and NIH 2D simulations were produced with modest NSF- and NIH grants grants (< ½ $million a year)(< ½ $million a year)

3D simulations were produced with large DARPA and ONR 3D simulations were produced with large DARPA and ONR grants grants (> 1 $million a year)(> 1 $million a year)