A human-like embodied agent learning tour guide for e-learning systems

E-learners have to study independently without educators, making it difficult for them to maintain interest or motivation. This study proposes the use of a human-like, embodied conversational agent in an e-learning system to interactively guide users through content and subsequently improve efficacy. Additionally, we investigate the effect of the agent´s posture on users´ a) learning motivation, b) engagement, c) perception of the agent, and d) learning efficacy. Forty-one undergraduate students participated in our empirical study, which revealed that through the use of human-like postures learners´ learning motivation and engagement increased.