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Systematic Design of Virtual Character-based Simulations Two Case Studies from the Pharmaceutical Industry

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Presenters <ul><li>Juan Leon, Ph.D. </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Night Kitchen Media </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Greg Sapnar </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Bristol-Myers Squibb </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Tomás Ramírez </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Bristol-Myers Squibb </li></ul></ul>

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Today, we can use virtual characters almost anywhere.

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How do we get the most value from these virtual characters—or VCs?

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The more accessible the VC technology the more likely its misuse. <ul><li>Easy creation = unnecessary proliferation </li></ul><ul><li>Characters can overwhelm the content </li></ul><ul><li>Characters do not properly represent the role they are depicting </li></ul><ul><li>Technology behind the characters drives design and development </li></ul>

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So…our design practices must better exploit the new “reality”. <ul><li>“ Hire” a virtual character based on the learning need </li></ul><ul><li>Clearly define the role of the character in the training program </li></ul><ul><li>Don’t be seduced by the lure of the “WOW” </li></ul>

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First, let’s make VCs better both as graphics and as people.

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Virtual Characters are effective and economical when well designed….

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We’re encountering many types of VCs in a range of situations…

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… Each at Differing Levels of Sophistication Visual Representation Behavior Static (simple) Dynamic ( complex) Biological Realism (complex) Graphical Abstraction (simple)    

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VCs support more natural learning for the human student. <ul><li>Instructional technology inside the delivery medium is doubling in advancement every 6 months </li></ul><ul><li>The biological technology of the basic learner is basically the same that hunted Mastodons </li></ul>

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VCs work in part by conveying powerful non-linguistic messages. Human Communication non-linguistic communication

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VCs reach the affective domain, and they have practical advantages. Proximity & Gaze Expression & Gesture Orientation & Posture

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Think more of multi-use “puppets” than expensive custom animations.

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Expressive and practical VCs contribute to a systematic solution following <ul><li>Focus on results </li></ul><ul><li>Utilize partnerships </li></ul><ul><li>Be systematic in: Assessment of need </li></ul><ul><li>Be systematic in: Design of solution </li></ul>HPT Standards

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Our job aid can help you select the proper VC to achieve your learning goals. (Clark-Lyons) 5. Principles of Psychological Instructional Events 4. Identify Communication Function Need 3. Design Visual Approach 1. Define Goals <ul><li>Why use a VC? </li></ul><ul><li>When to use a VC. </li></ul><ul><li>What VC to use? </li></ul><ul><li>How to use that VC? </li></ul>2. Define context

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I should have had a VC! <ul><li>Users are getting lost in the content </li></ul><ul><li>Users can’t visualize how the task will look when it is performed </li></ul><ul><li>Users are under-motivated or under invested in the material </li></ul><ul><li>Users fail to see the connection between themselves and the content </li></ul>

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When should I use a VC?

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What type of VC should I use?

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Virtual Characters are Graphics… …and the rules for using graphics for learning must be followed

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Like other graphics, VCs can have specific communicative functions. Decorative Organizational Interpretive Representational Mnemonic Relational Transformational Clark/Lyons

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VCs can also support psychological processes of learning. Build mental models Support attention Support motivation Support transfer Minimize cognitive load Activate prior knowledge

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<ul><li>Build mental models and support far transfer of learning. </li></ul><ul><li>Complementary Modalities </li></ul><ul><li>Cognitive rehearsal </li></ul>VCs can manage cognitive load

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But…how do we motivate without falling into “edutainment”?

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Virtual Characters are Regarded as Human… …and the rules for interacting with humans must be followed

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In the Reeves-Nass model VCs are engaging human beings. People respond socially and naturally to media even though they believe it is not reasonable to do so, and even though they don’t think that these responses characterize themselves….

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We value VCs as specialists and we transfer stereotypes, i.e. gender

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Polite dialogue has: - quality - quantity - relevance - clarity We attribute personality to virtual characters and expect politeness.

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We all like to be flattered. How am I doing? How is he doing?

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Virtual Characters work well for modeling behavior and decision making….

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The situation: Donovan reviews policies and demonstrates procedures to comply with regulatory requirements. As he learns along the process, he discusses his actions with his management and with regulatory compliance personnel. Case Study 1: Donovan models behavior in Samples Management Process

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Case Study 1: Donovan models behavior in Samples Management Process Storing Samples

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Case Study 1: Donovan models behavior in Samples Management Process Expiring Product

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Which psychological functions were at play during the previous scenes? Build mental models Support attention Support motivation Support transfer Minimize cognitive load Activate prior knowledge

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Which social functions did you find at play? <ul><li>Reverence for a specialist </li></ul><ul><li>Gender distinction </li></ul><ul><li>Conversational politeness </li></ul><ul><li>Flattery </li></ul>

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Case Study 2: Use of a Virtual Character as a decision-maker.

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How would you handle the instructional challenge? The challenge: By using a case study scenario, we need to model an invisible decision-making process; in this example, the diagnosis and treatment of a complex mental disorder. Using your VC Matrix tool, identify the instructional behaviors demonstrated by the characters in the following examples. What roles are played by Dr. Jennings and Dr. Andrews?

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Here’s what we did….

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What conclusions can we draw today about using Virtual Characters?

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First, let’s make VCs better both as graphics and as people.

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Lessons Learned in Using VCs <ul><ul><li>We’ve realized Time, Cost, and Logistical Advantages </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Use when you cannot put the learner in the situation where he’d be performing the job task - safety, legal, or regulatory concerns </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Beware of “seductive augmentation” </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Well used for modeling behavior and decision-making. </li></ul></ul>

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Our job aid shows you when and how to use VCs effectively. <ul><li>When to use a VC. </li></ul><ul><li>What VC to use? </li></ul><ul><li>How to use that VC? </li></ul>

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<ul><li>Don’t equate liking to learning </li></ul>What we’ve learned when designing VCs as graphics? <ul><li>Attract, don’t distract </li></ul><ul><li>Beware of “seductive augmentation” </li></ul><ul><li>Balance attraction to motion with visual rests </li></ul>

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Expect to see VCs as the human face of intelligent systems. <ul><li>Possibilities for the future: </li></ul><ul><li>Personalized virtual characters </li></ul><ul><li>EPSS: Putting a Human Face on Expert Systems </li></ul><ul><li>Holographic virtual characters </li></ul>

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Presenters <ul><li>Juan Leon, Ph.D. </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Night Kitchen Media </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Greg Sapnar </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Bristol-Myers Squibb </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Tomás Ramírez </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Bristol-Myers Squibb </li></ul></ul>

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<ul><li>VCs can demonstrate alternative consequences for desired and undesired behavior </li></ul><ul><li>Learners will grow impatient with a characters that seem unintelligent </li></ul><ul><li>VC’s dialogue is as important as its visual elements </li></ul><ul><li>Use VCs in scenario-based inquiry </li></ul><ul><li>Use VCs as natural attention getters and models of behavior </li></ul><ul><li>Use VCs to reduce cognitive load by feeding natural processing </li></ul><ul><li>VCs allow us to exemplify (and illustrate) thought processes </li></ul><ul><li>VCs can prompt cooperation </li></ul>What we’ve learned about using VCs for modeling behavior and decision-making.

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What we’ve learned when employing each type of VC? GUIDES | MODELS | INTERACTIVE AGENTS <ul><li>Virtual characters should : </li></ul><ul><ul><li>reflect the variety of people within your organization/audience </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>not be used as talking heads </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>be used when otherwise, you cannot put the learner in the situation where he’d be performing the job task - safety, legal, or regulatory concerns </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>demonstrate multiple scenarios for the learner </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>build familiarity ( shelf life & background ) </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>show expertise </li></ul></ul>

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What have we seen as advantages in using VCs in training initiatives? <ul><ul><li>Time, Cost, and Logistical Advantages </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>are always available </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>can operate in virtual locations </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>can look however you want them to look </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>easier to deploy </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>more consistent than actors </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>require fewer resources to produce </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>more flexible to manipulate/repurpose </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>can translate across cultures (if designed and used correctly) </li></ul></ul></ul>GUIDES | MODELS | INTERACTIVE AGENTS