An approach to reduce transactional distance: semi-synchronous distance monitoring of learners

Web-based learning interfaces are more and more numerous and diversified. Due to their multiplicity, they can very rapidly become obstacles to learning process, because of transactional distance. With the emergence of agents´ technologies and their applications to education, new orientations are adopted. Several agents are integrated into learning environment for many purposes. In this paper, we present an approach where the learner model is used as input for life-like agents associated to learners. This technique allows teachers to monitor at a distance their student mental states which are linked to avatars facial expressions representing their knowledge level. In this approach, we introduce the concept of semi-synchronous communication as a mean to reduce transactional distance.