On-line Virtual Instructor for Teaching the Fundamentals of Finite Element Method Seshadhar V. Aluri: M.S. Student at UA Javed Alam: Professor at YSU Joseph J. Rencis: Professor & Head at UA Goals Develop interactive prototype e-Lecture interface using Animated Pedagogical Agent called Mr. FEMur for teaching finite element method. Integrate e-Lectures into FEML that is apart of bigger effort to develop the FEMur website. e-Learning Review e-Learning in Engineering Education e-Lecture Interface Animated Pedagogical Agents (APA) APA Usage in Engineering Education e-Lecture Creation Process Prototype e-Lecture Conclusion A prototype e-Lecture was developed with a human-like animated pedagogical agent for e-Learning of finite element method. Various pedagogical agents developed for Engineering Education were compared and the influence of animated pedagogical agents on student learning was also discussed. This approach demonstrates that more expressive and engaging e-Lectures can be created, that overcome the existing challenges addressed in this presentation. Department of Mechanical Engineering Department of Civil and Chemical Engineering e-Lecture Creation Tools VoiceText TM Sculptoris Voices Lite Macromedia Captivate Computer Generated Animated Characters Pedagogical - Designed to Teach Agents – Represent or Act as a Virtual Tutor Positive Influence of APA on Student Learning Subject Retention – Audio and Visual Presentation of Subject Matter Grasping Attention – Concentration is Not Lost Motivation Challenges of e-Lecture Creation Tools Expensive • Website Update Time • Tedious Instructor Availability • Standard e-Lecture Formats • Common Creation Tools DUE CCLI-EMD Award Number 0514044 Represents Virtualized Version of Traditional Lectures e-Book Numerical & Computational Tools Replaces Traditional Tests Imitates Real Life Problems

Develop interactive prototype e-Lecture interface using Animated Pedagogical Agent called Mr. FEMur for teaching finite element method.

Integrate e-Lectures into FEML that is apart of bigger effort to develop the FEMur website.

A prototype e-Lecture was developed with a human-like animated pedagogical agent for e-Learning of finite element method.

Various pedagogical agents developed for Engineering Education were compared and the influence of animated pedagogical agents on student learning was also discussed.

This approach demonstrates that more expressive and engaging e-Lectures can be created, that overcome the existing challenges addressed in this presentation.

Computer Generated Animated Characters

Pedagogical - Designed to Teach

Agents – Represent or Act as a Virtual Tutor

Positive Influence of APA on Student Learning

Subject Retention – Audio and Visual Presentation of Subject Matter

Grasping Attention – Concentration is Not Lost

Motivation

Expensive • Website Update

Time • Tedious

Instructor Availability