From Robots to Creatures: The Influence of Pedagogical Agent Design on Student Motivation and Learning in IVR Education

Linjing Sun, Boon Giin Lee, Matthew Pike, Sen Yang, David Chieng

IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops (VRW), March 2025

immersive virtual reality, pedagogical agent, education

Abstract

Pedagogical agents (PAs) have been extensively employed in immersive virtual reality (IVR) educational settings, yet their specific attributes are not thoroughly investigated. This study explores the impact of PA appearance and knowledge delivery methods on student learning in IVR environments. The findings reveal that the flying robot PA is regarded as the most credible, while cute creature PAs increase motivation but cause some distraction. The integrated text and audio multi-modality approach resulted in the best knowledge retention, though some participants experienced a slower learning pace. These insights are significant for designing and using PAs in IVR educational settings.