Using the Ecological Approach to Create Simulations of Learning Environments

Abstract

Simulated pedagogical agents have a long history in AIED research. We are interested in simulation from another, less well explored perspective: simulating the entire learning environment (including learners) to inform the system design process. An AIED system designer can carry out experiments in the simulation environment that would otherwise be too costly (or time consuming) with real learners using a real system. We suggest that an architecture called the “ecological approach (EA)”[1] can form the basis for creating such simulations. To demonstrate, we describe how to develop a proof-of-concept simulated ITS prototype, modelled in the EA architecture. We also show how to factor in data from two human subject studies (done for other purposes) to gain a degree of cognitive fidelity. An experiment is carried out with the prototype. The approach is general and can apply to learning systems with a wide variety of “pedagogical styles” (not just ITSs) at various stages of their life cycle. We conclude that simulation is a critically needed methodology in AIED.