The effect of virtual agent gender and embodiment on the experiences and performance of students in virtual field trips

Pejman Sajjadi, Jiayan Zhao, Jan O. Wallgrun, Tanya Furman, Peter C. La Femina, Alex Fatemi, Zachary E. Zidik, Alexander Klippel

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

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this paper, we explore how the embodiment and gender of a virtual instructor can affect social presence, spatial presence, perceived learning effectiveness, and performance of students in virtual field trips. A pilot study with 22 students was conducted in the spring of 2020 in a geoscience course at The Pennsylvania State University. Our results show that both gender and embodiment of a virtual instructor can affect the social and learning experiences of students. A female virtual instructor elicited higher levels of social presence, spatial presence, and perceived learning effectiveness compared to a male virtual instructor; and an embodied virtual instructor elicited a higher feeling of spatial presence compared to a disembodied virtual instructor.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of 2020 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment, and Learning for Engineering, TALE 2020
EditorsHiroyuki Mitsuhara, Yoshiko Goda, Yutato Ohashi, Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo, Jun Shen, Neelakantam Venkatarayalu, Gary Wong, Masanori Yamada, Leon Chi-Un Lei
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages221-228
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781728169422
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 8 2020
Event2020 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment, and Learning for Engineering, TALE 2020 - Virtual, Takamatsu, Japan
Duration: Dec 8 2020Dec 11 2020

Publication series

NameProceedings of 2020 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment, and Learning for Engineering, TALE 2020

Conference

Conference2020 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment, and Learning for Engineering, TALE 2020
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityVirtual, Takamatsu
Period12/8/2012/11/20

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Media Technology
  • Education

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