Title: Intelligent Agents for MUDs
Performer(s):
Colleen Emmenegger
SAIC
10770 Wateridge Circle
MS #218
San Diego, CA 92121
David Kirsh
University of California, San Diego
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Cluster: CAPER
Contact Information:
Phone: 619-552-5245
Fax: 619-452-6454
email: colleen_emmenegger@cpqm.saic.com
Phone: 619-534-3819
Fax: 619-534-1128
email: kirsh@cogsci.ucsd.edu
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1. Instructional Focus:
Content areas/topics: Not content specific; usable in a variety of subjects. The Librarian, for instance, can search for information about any subject, including space science, biology, history, and so on.
Process skills: Collaborative or individualized learning; inquiry.
2. Target Population: Teachers and students 4-12.
3. Summary Description: The Performers will develop a set of computer tools, referred to as "intelligent agents," which will make it easier for students and teachers to access educational material on the Internet. These agents will be called "Librarian," "Guide," "Teacher Associate," "Student Mentor," "Matchmaker," and "Historian."
The "Librarian" in particular will provide students and teachers with a convenient, easy to use graphical interface to library cataloguing materials on the web and in databases. Students will be able to come to the "librarian" for help in finding an appropriate set of readings to help them write their essays. Teachers will also be able to use the "Librarian" to help them create reading lists and to make card entries for their own personal and school libraries.
The agents will function within a MUD. A MUD (Multi User Dimension,) is a computer based "environment" which has things such as rooms, objects, and people. Users can move around and take actions in this imaginary but realistic "virtual" environment, just as they would in real life. Many Users can be in the virtual environment at the same time and interact with each other, usually by typing things on their computers. Users can move and change things in the MUD, and other users see the changes immediately (in "real time").
Within the MUD, the agents interact with a repository of multimedia information. They also have access to various lessons.
This project's technology approaches problems from a human point of view. The "Librarian" agent, for example, will be modeled after reference librarians and will incorporate ways in which successful librarians interact with students to help them acquire information. This is as opposed to many current products which concentrate on more technical "search engine" type technologies.
Additionally, the tools will interact with each other behind the scenes to gather and share required information. For instance, the "Matchmaker" will poll the student Associates in order to gather student model information to help in recommending group creation.
4. Training and Staff Development:
- Teacher prerequisite skills/knowledge needed: Teachers should be self sufficient in computer environments (including interactive ones); they should be familiar with computer applications, and drag and drop graphical interfaces. They should be able to send and receive email and to navigate the Web. It would be useful to have experience performing searches on large data bases.
- Student prerequisite skills needed: None specified.
- Training needed/provided: None specified, although there will be on-line help.
- Technical support needed/provided: Questions will be answered by email.
5. Technological/Resources Needed: Computers, access to the Internet.
6. Intended Outcomes:
Students: Students' learning will improve as a result of their being able to access information more easily.
Teachers: Teachers' productivity and effectiveness will improve.
7. Instructional Time Required: Integrated into the regular school day.
8. Role of the Pilot Teacher(s): Teachers and students will be asked for input to assist developers in identifying the most appropriate design and function for the "agents."
9. Example(s) of the Use of this Product (Scenario): A group of sixth grade students working on a unit on ancient Egypt use the "Librarian" to help them locate various pieces of information about the subject.
