Psychological Development and Education ›› 2016, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (4): 453-462.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2016.04.09

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Effect of Animation Pedagogical Agent in Multimedia Learning: The Role of Learner's Experience and Agent Preference

LI Wenjing1, TONG Yu1, WANG Fuxing1, KANG Sujie2, LIU Huashan1, YANG Chao3   

  1. 1. School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079;
    2. Wuchang University of Technology, Wuhan 430079;
    3. Department of Student Affairs, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004
  • Online:2016-07-15 Published:2016-07-15

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Abstract: Previous studies showed that the effect of Animated Pedagogical Agent (APA) in multimedia learning was debatable. In this study, animations related to the components and working principle of air conditioning were used as multimedia learning materials, and SMI RED 250 Eye tracker was used to record eye movement data. In experiment 1, A 2(Agent: APA vs. non- APA) × 2(Prior knowledge: high vs. low) between-subjects design was employed to investigate whether APA can improve learning and the effect of prior knowledge. In experiment 2, a single factor (preference APA, non-preference APA,non-APA) design was employed to investigate the influence of learners' preference for agent. Results of experiment 1 found that compared with no APA, learners in the APA condition had much more fixation count, shorter saccade latency average for animation, and also had higher learning interest. Learners with low prior knowledge in the APA condition outperformed non-APA on transfer tests, but not for learners with high prior knowledge. Results of experiment 2 found that learners in the preference group and non- preference group performed better on transfer tests than non-APA group. Learners in the preference group perceived lower cognitive load, and had more fixation count for air-condition. In conclusion, APA can promote multimedia learning performance for learners with low prior knowledge, but not for high prior knowledge. APA can facilitate learning when learners preferred the APA image, and can improve the learning performance without reducing the attention to the core learning material. So it supported the Social Agency Theory.

Key words: animated pedagogical agent, prior knowledge, agent preference, multimedia learning, eye movements

CLC Number: 

  • G442

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