The innovative application of learning companions in virtual singapura

Abstract

Virtual Singapura (VS) is a virtual world based learning environment designed to facilitate learning of the plant transport system. During field studies of VS, we observed that students in virtual world tend to be attracted by visual and auditorial stimuli and be distracted from learning objectives. Also, intensive cognitive load can affect students' learning experience. To address these issues, we propose two types of companion agent, namely curious companion and remembrance companion. Results collected from the field studies indicate advantages of learning companion augmented virtual world in enhancing students' learning experience.