Chapter 8 Applying the Personalization Principle

Chapter 8 Applying the Personalization Principle

Use conversational style and virtual coaches

Conversational style is better

Agent

8.1 Personalization principle one: use conversational rather than formal style

n Create or select e-learning courses that include some spoken or printed text that is conversational rather than formal.

8.2 Psychological reasons for the personalization principle

n According to the information delivery view, the training program should deliver information as efficiently as possible.

n According to cognitive theories of learning, humans strive to make sense of presented material by applying appropriate cognitive processes.

n The rationale for putting words in formal style is that conversational style can detract from the seriousness of the message.

n People work harder to understand material when they feel they are in a conversation with a partner rather than simply receiving information.�q��ܪ���Ӥ��o�{�A�H�̷�Hı�o�L�O�M�@�ӥ���ܮɷ|���ª��l����T�Ӫ��V�O�C(�O�_���P����3?)

8.3Evidence for using conversational style

n You want to write with sufficient informality so that the learners feel they are interacting with a conversational partner but not so informally that the learner is distracted or the material is undermined.

n People learned better from a narrated animation on lightning formation when the speaker��s voice was human rather than machine-simulated.

8.4 Personalization principle two: use onscreen coaches to promote learning

n What are pedagogical agents?

l Pedagogical agents are onscreen characters who help guide the learning process during an e-learning episode(��q).

n Do agents improve student learning?

l It might be worthwhile to consider the role of animated pedagogical agents as aids to learning.

n Do agents need to look real?

l A real character did not work any better than a cartoon(�d�q) character.

n Do agents need to sound real?

l Agent��s voice is an important determinant of instructional effectiveness.

n We suggest that you consider using onscreen agents, and that the agent��s words be presented as speech rather than text, in conversational style rather than formal style, and with human-like rather than machine-like articulation.

n Personalization principle:

l Present words in conversational style rather than formal style. You should be careful not to overdo the personalization style because it is important not to distract the learner.

l Use onscreen agents to provide coaching in the form of hints, worked examples, demonstrations, and explanations.

n What to look for in e-learning

n Instructional content presented in conversational language using ��you��, ��your��, ��I��, ��our��, and ��we��.

n Coaching provided via conversational narration from onscreen characters (agents).

l Agents may be visually realistic or line art.

l Agent dialog presented via audio narration.

l Voice quality and script should be natural and conversational.

l Agents serve a valid instructional purpose.