Skip to main content
Article
Multiple Agent Designs in Conversational Intelligent Tutoring Systems
Psychology Faculty Publications
  • Anne Lippert, University of Memphis
  • Keith Shubeck, University of Memphis
  • Brent Morgan, University of Memphis
  • Andrew Hampton, University of Memphis
  • Arthur Graesser, University of Memphis
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2020
Abstract

This article describes designs that use multiple conversational agents within the framework of intelligent tutoring systems. Agents in this case are computerized talking heads or embodied animated avatars that help students learn by performing actions and holding conversations with them in natural language. The earliest conversational intelligent tutoring systems were limited to a single agent that interacted with a student in the role of a teacher or expert. Technological advances have since made possible systems in which multiple agents interact with the learner and each other to model ideal behavior, strategies, reflections, and social interactions. Though still an emerging technology, multi-agent intelligent tutoring systems afford pedagogical benefits that go beyond the capabilities of the single-agent system and have facilitated learning gains on a variety of subject matters and skills, including science, technology, engineering, mathematics, research methods, metacognition, and language comprehension. The present work describes some common multi-agent designs that may be used to achieve a variety of pedagogical goals. We provide examples of how these designs have been implemented in educational or experimental settings and anticipate future use within the field of artificial intelligence.

Citation Information
Anne Lippert, Keith Shubeck, Brent Morgan, Andrew Hampton, et al.. "Multiple Agent Designs in Conversational Intelligent Tutoring Systems" (2020)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/anne-lippert/13/