Abstract
We consider the use of virtual humans and an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) for the teaching of cultural social conventions. Learning occurs in a serious game that requires the learner to establish trust and reach agreements with virtual characters of a different culture. Our tutoring system provides culturally focused learning support during and after the meetings with these virtual characters. In a study intended to determine the effectiveness of the ITS, we found that guidance provided during meetings seemed to improve learners' understandings of culturally-related "phases" in meetings (e.g., when to talk about business) as well as greater success in an unsupported posttest meeting, but with no overall increase in cultural understanding when compared with learning in passive and unguided conditions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings - ICCE 2008 |
| Subtitle of host publication | 16th International Conference on Computers in Education |
| Pages | 35-42 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| State | Published - 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | 16th International Conference on Computers in Education, ICCE 2008 - Taipei, Taiwan, Province of China Duration: Oct 27 2008 → Oct 31 2008 |
Other
| Other | 16th International Conference on Computers in Education, ICCE 2008 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Taiwan, Province of China |
| City | Taipei |
| Period | 10/27/08 → 10/31/08 |
Keywords
- Cultural awareness
- Intelligent tutoring systems
- Intercultural communication
- Intercultural competence
- Interpersonal skills
- Serious games
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Computer Science (miscellaneous)
- Education