Towards a Reflective Practicum of Embodied Conversational Agent Experiences

Abstract

A reflective practicum is a low-pressure, low-risk learning environment. In a reflective practicum a learner is educated in a professional practice and how to use reflection in the setting of that professional practice. An example of a low-pressure and low-risk learning environment is the use of embodied conversational agents (ECAs) in medicine to provide training for interviewing and diagnostic skills. However, such ECA experiences have not been used to teach how to use reflection in the setting of a professional practice. In this paper we present a framework that supports explicit reflective learning for ECA experiences. Using this framework, ECA experiences become a reflective practicum.This framework was applied to an ECA experience called the Neurological Examination Rehearsal Virtual Environment (NERVE), and created a sample experience called the NERVE Reflective Practicum (NERVE-RP). We conducted a user study in which second-year medical students (n = 76) used NERVE-RP and engaged in reflection based on the experience. The results of the user study show that students engage in valuable reflections during the experience including instances of critical reflection.

Advancing Virtual Patient Simulations and Experiential Learning with InterPLAY: Examining How Theory Informs Design and Design Informs Theory.

“…Kleinsmith et al (2015), Rivera-Gutierrez et al (2014), Lyons, Johnson, Khalil, and Cendan (2014), and Johnson et al (2014Johnson et al ( , 2013 report findings from controlled experiments completed during the first four years of R&D that compared various aspects of VP simulations to inform the design of the system and advanced VP simulation research, such as individual versus small group use of the system, use of the system under competitive versus non-competitive conditions, the use of reflective questions embedded during versus after the simulation, instructor-led content delivery versus independent self-study of the content prior to use, and the use of an open-chat versus closed menu user interface.…”