Criteria for Designing Pedagogical Agents in E-learning Environments

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the criteria for designing the Pedagogical Agent in the e-learning environment according to three areas: educational and instructional criteria, technical criteria (voice and verbal communication), and external appearance criteria. This study adopted the analytical descriptive methodology which was conducted in three stages: reading and analysing the previous literature and research, using the data to develop the research tool, and finally testing the research tool quantitatively by applying it to the study sample. The criteria were designed based on the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning and social constructivism theory. The questionnaire was applied to the study sample, which consisted of 31 students enrolled in the master program in the Department of Educational Technology at King Saud University. The study resulted in a list of 34 criteria: 13 criteria for educational and instructional areas, 10 technical criteria for the voice and verbal, and 11 criteria for the external appearance. The study recommends the adoption of the pedagogical agent technology in Arabic e-learning environments and designing it according to the criteria identified in this study. It also recommends training teachers and faculty on using different techniques for designing the pedagogical agent.

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