Multimedia Learning with Animated Pedagogical Agents

Mayer, R.E. (Ed.) (2005). Cambridge Handbook of Multimedia Learning. New York: Cambridge. [Chapter 31] 


APAs (Animated Pedagogical Agents) and Multimedia Learning:
Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning and APAS:
CTML based on:
1- dual-channel assumption
2- limited capacity of working memory
3- active processing assumption: meaningful learning occurs when the learner engages in cognitive processes 


Process of learning with APA  according to Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning

Five predictions about APA design from CTML:
1- modality hypothesis for APA design: agents communicating with spoken words instead of on screen is better
2- redundancy hypothesis for APA design: agents communicating with spoken words shouldn't have redundant narration of on screen text.
3- split-attention hypothesis for APA design: agents that are visible and animated do not lead to meaningful learning as much as agents that are invisible and static  
4- active learning hypothesis for APA design: active processing of materials occurs when the agent promotes student's engagement in the cognitive processes of selection.
5- interest hypothesis of APA design: students engaged in materials is more likely when APA makes the learning more interesting and motivating


Principles for development of agent based multimedia:
1- Modality Principle: agents should communicate with spoken words
2- Redundancy Principle: agents should communicate with spoken words alone no redundant on screen text or narration.
3- Active-Learning Principle: increased behavioral or cognitive activity such as interactivity, personalization, guidance , reflection
4- Interactivity Principle: agent should promote students' interactions and manipulations of the material 
5- Personalization Principle: agents should communicate with personalized rather than monologue-style messages
6- Guidance Principle: agents should provide principle based explanations during learning 
7- Reflection Principle: agents should provide students with more opportunities to reflect while engaged in knowledge construction
8- Cost-effective Principle: no need to waste costly resources for highly visible APAs if it doesn't serve educational objective.