Improving the usability and effectiveness of online learning: How can avatars help?

This paper describes Empathic Tutoring System (ETS) which uses character agents for online learning. Eye movement tracking and other physiological measures are used to personalize character agent behaviors (affective and instruction) in an e-learning environment. A prototype system reacts to learner's eye information in real-time, recording eye gaze and pupil dilation data (plus heart rate and skin conductance) during learning. Based on these measures, character agents inferred the attentional and motivational status of the learner and responded accordingly with affective and instructional behaviors. Character agents engage and direct the learner's attention while providing both generalized system help and personalized advice about the learning content. Feedbacks from preliminary usability studies may suggest that e-learning character agents reacting to eye gaze and physiological measures may heighten learner concentration and lead to more effective learning.