Conversational Agents as Online Learning Tutors

Conversational agents, also called chatbots, talkbots or chatterbots, are computer applications that offer the user a natural language interface, whether vocal or textual. In the education field, the use of conversational agents has generated some very promising results when employed as individual learning enhancers and, as recent research shows, in collaborative learning too. One particularly interesting sector for the application of conversational agents is that of massive online open courses (MOOCs) and integration with Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) to build personalized learning processes and human-machine interactions that are more natural and effective. The book explores the application of conversational agents in the specific role of tutor in e-learning processes. The aim is to investigate: [a] their technological implementation; [b] the underlying instructional design; [c] the type of activities that conversational agents carry out; [d] the outcomes of different experimental pilots and prototypes.