Virtual Assistants (Chatbots) as Help to Teachers in Collaborative Learning Environment

Abstract

Learning is an important activity from elementary school to university and more (long-life learning). Different learning models and approaches are used with more or less active and autonomous orientations. Technology supported learning objective is to assist and empower these approaches by proposing Learning environments. Collaboration is an important aspect of learning allowing to the learners to share and exchange learning contributions. In a group learning (class learning), the size is often a problem for the teacher to assist and supervise all learners. We are proposing a Collaborative Learning Environment using technology supported tools organized as a system considering different learning approaches and helping the teacher to manage his/her accompanying activity to learners in need by integration of virtual assistants. In this way the teacher can devote him/her to non-autonomous learners and virtual assistants to manage the work of autonomous learners. The distribution between autonomous learners or group of learners managed by virtual assistants and non-autonomous managed by the teacher is evaluated at defined period to reallocate learners to more appropriate groups. This process is called Orchestration. In this paper we describe main principles, system architecture and orchestration process. An integration process of external exercises as well as internal for which we give the design process and associated tools pour the teacher and construction of grouping exercises in session content and their short term and long-term use. Finally, we present the relation between our generic system and its use and adaptation to a specific field of study and education level.