Web-based learning through mixed-initiative interactions: Design and implementation

Nantha Kumar Subramaniam

doi:10.1108/aaouj-08-02-2013-b002

Abstract

Mixed-initiative interaction is a naturally-occurring feature of human-human interactions. It is characterised by turn-taking, frequent change of focus, agenda and control among the "speakers". This human-based mixed-initiative interaction can be implemented through mixed-initiative systems. This is a popular approach to building intelligent systems that can collaborate naturally and effectively with people. Mixed-initiative systems exhibit various degrees of involvement with regards to the initiatives taken by the user or the system. In any discourse, the initiative may be shared between either, a learner and a system agent, or between two independent system agents. Both the parties in question establish and maintain a common goal and context, and proceed with an interaction mechanism involving initiative taking that optimises their progress towards the goal. However, the application of mixed-initiative interaction in web-based learning is very much limited. This paper discusses the design and implementation of a web-based learning system through mixedinitiative system known as JavaLearn. JavaLearn allows the interaction between the system (in the form of a software agent) and the individual learner. Here, the system supports the learning through a problem solving activity by demanding active learning behaviour from the learner with minimal natural language understanding by the agent and embodies the application-dependent aspects of the discourse. It guides the learner to solve the problem by giving adaptive advice, hints and engages the learner in the real time interaction in the form of "conversation". The principal features of this system are it is adaptive and is based on reflection, observation and relation. The system acquires its intelligence through the finite state machine and rule-based agents.

Highlights

Four modes of interactions that can be found in a web-based learning environment are student-student, student-instructor, student-content and student-interface (Thurmond & Wambach, 2004)
The initiative may be shared between either, a learner and a system agent, or between two independent system agents
The system/prototype known as JavaLearn is able to engage the learners in a problem solving activity and at the same time allows the students to “interact” with the system as part of the learning process activity in solving the problem

Summary

Introduction

Four modes of interactions that can be found in a web-based learning environment are student-student, student-instructor, student-content and student-interface (Thurmond & Wambach, 2004). Student-interface requires active participation from the user This eventually demands active learning behaviour among the learners. Mixed-initiative interaction is a naturallyoccurring feature of human-human interactions (Menon et al, 2005) It is characterised by turn-taking, frequent change of focus and control among the “speakers”. This human-based mixed-initiative interaction can be implemented through mixed-initiative systems, which is a popular approach to building intelligent systems that can collaborate naturally and effectively with people. Hanson, Judd and Rich (2009) had designed a game environment to teach students about basic programming and object-oriented concepts using text-based mixed-initiative interaction. In open and distance education, web-based learning is normally conducted using Learning Management System such as WebCT or Moodle and these platforms lack the mixed-initiative interaction component

Objective

Conclusion and future work