As the required software becomes more mature and the hardware becomes cheaper, more and more researchers are including animated agents and/or intelligent physical agents (robots) with their intelligent tutoring systems.  Not only do students benefit from the high functionality of agents and robots, but their addition facilitates enjoyable hands-on learning. This workshop deals with the issues and methods of supporting learning with agents and robots.  It will focus on the effects of using agents and robots on cognitive thinking skills, problem solving, and motivation. We invite those who are implementing agents and robots in the classroom and those who wish to. Possible topics: the effects of using agents and robots on cognitive thinking, math and science skills, and problems encountered when setting up labs, an examination and comparison of different platforms, and a discussion of different applications, including expert systems.

Important Dates

Monday, June 26, 2006  Workshop

Workshop Schedule

8:00 - 16:00   Registration

8:30 - 09:30   Paper Session 1

Introductions

Evelyn Lulis, Shlomo Argamon, and Martha W. Evens: Expert Tutors Adjust Tutoring Strategies When They Change Tutoring Policies in Response to Their Assessment of Student Performance [pdf]

9:30 – 9:45   Coffee Break

9:45 – 11:30   Paper Session 2

Iraide Zipitria, Jon A. Elorriaga, and Ana Arruarte: SA Learner Sentence Comprehension in Agglutinative and Non-Agglutinative Languages [pdf]

Pamela Jordan, Michael Ringenberg and Brian Hall: Rapidly Developing Dialogue Systems that Support Learning Studies [pdf]

Demo – Brian Hall

11:30 - 13:00   Lunch Break

13:00 - 15:30   Paper Session 3

             Douglas Blank: Tools for Exploring Robotics and Natural Language Processing, Guest Speaker Douglas Blank [pdf]

 Bernard Ricca, Evelyn Lulis, and Dennis Bade : Lego Mindstorms and the Growth of Critical Thinking [pdf]

 Mary Jo Davidson: PAULA: A Computer-Based Sign Language Tutor for Hearing Adults [pdf]

 15:30 - 16:00   Coffee Break

 16:00 - 17:30   Paper session 3

             Alicia Heraz and Claude Frasson: Hidden Emotions in Iconic Faces [pdf]

             Emmanuel Blanchard and Claude Frasson: Easy Creation of Game-Like Virtual Learning Environments [pdf]

 General Discussion

Program Committee

Co-Organizers:
Evelyn Lulis, DePaul University

Peter Wiemer-Hastings, DePaul University
 

Hani Abu-Salem, DePaul University

Elisabeth Andre, University of Augsburg 

Dennis Bade, John S Clark Elementary School, Waukegan Illinois

Douglas Blank, Bryn Mawr College

Clark Elliott, DePaul University
Mark Core, USC/ICT  

Carl Entemann, Roosevelt University

Martha Evens, Illinois Institute of Technology

Reva Freedman, Northern Illinois University

Michael Glass, Valparaiso

James Lester, North Carolina State University 

Bernard Ricca, Dominican University  

Rosalee Wolfe, DePaul University