Study on intelligent emotional agents for learning

Abstract

In this paper we examine the use of graphical animated lifelike agents that are able to portray emotions in e-learning environments in order to achieve an improved human computer interaction. We briefly review previous attempts that were using agents with emotional intelligence from 1992 onwards. We describe the impact of emotion in learning and focus on issues referring to difficulties that arise from the lack of communication between educators and students in distance learning. A study that was conducted in the Technological Institute of Thessaloniki, in the department of Informatics between 52 first year students is presented. Results are reported which show that the use of agents with such capabilities improve the learning procedure.