Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction

HCII 2021: Learning and Collaboration Technologies: Games and Virtual Environments for Learning pp 230–250Cite as

Envisioned Pedagogical Uses of Chatbots in Higher Education and Perceived Benefits and Challenges

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 12785))

Abstract

The widespread use of chatbots is a reality and their application in higher education is promising. Understanding higher education users’ expectations for the use of chatbots in education is important for the design and development of new solutions. The present investigation documents how higher education users envision the pedagogical uses of chatbots in higher education, and how experts in the domain of education chatbots perceive the potential benefits and challenges related to the use of chatbots in education. A qualitative inquiry was undertaken based on 22 semi-structured interviews with higher-education students and instructors, and experts from the fields of Artificial Intelligence and educational chatbots. Based on our findings, the envisioned pedagogical uses of chatbots can be categorized in terms of chronological integration into the learning process: prospective, on-going, and retrospective. Under each one of those higher-order categories, specific learning domains can be supported (i.e., cognitive, affective), besides administrative tasks. Benefits and challenges foreseen in the use of pedagogical chatbots are presented and discussed. The findings of this study highlight the manner in which higher-education users envision the use of chatbots in education, with potential implications on the creation of specific pedagogical scenarios, accounting also for the learning context, chatbot technology, and pedagogies that are deemed appropriate in each scenario.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Alepis, E., Virvou, M.: Automatic generation of emotions in tutoring agents for affective e-learning in medical education. Expert Syst. Appl. 38(8), 9840–9847 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Anderson, R.: Reforming science teaching: what research says about inquiry. J. Sci. Teacher Educ. 13(1), 1–12 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Anderson, L.W., Krathwohl, D.R. (eds.): A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing: A Revision of ‘s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. Longman, New York (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ayedoun, E., Hayashi, Y., Seta, K.: A conversational agent to encourage willingness to communicate in the context of English as a foreign language. Procedia Comput. Sci. 60, 1433–1442 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Baker, R.S.: Stupid tutoring systems, intelligent humans. Int. J. Artif. Intell. Educ. 26(2), 600–614 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Beck, J., Woolf, B.P., Beal, C.R.: ADVISOR: a machine learning architecture for intelligent tutor construction. AAAI/IAAI, pp. 552–557 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bickmore, T.W., Schulman, D., Sidner, C.: Automated interventions for multiple health behaviors using conversational agents. Patient Educ. Couns. 92(2), 142–148 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bii, P.K., Too, J.K., Mukwa, C.W.: Teacher attitude towards use of chatbots in routine teaching. Univ. J. Educ. Res. 6(7), 1586–1597 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bloom, B.S., Engelhart, M.D., Furst, E.J., Hill, W.H., Krathwohl, D.R.: Taxonomy of educational objectives: The classification taxonomy of educational goals. In: Handbook 1: Cognitive Domain. David McKay, New York (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Brandtzaeg, P.B., Følstad, A.: Chatbots: changing user needs and motivations. Interactions 25(5), 38–43 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Colace, F., De Santo, M., Lombardi, M., Pascale, F., Pietrosanto, A., Lemma, S.: Chatbot for e-learning: a case of study. Int. J. Mech. Eng. Robot. Res. 7(5), 528–533 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Dignum, V.: Ethics in artificial intelligence: introduction to the special issue. Ethics Inf. Technol. 20(1), 1–3 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10676-018-9450-z

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  13. Dutta, D.: Developing an Intelligent Chat-bot Tool to assist high school students for learning general knowledge subjects. Georgia Institute of Technology (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Eisenhardt, K.M.: Building theories from case study research. Acad. Manag. Rev. 14(4), 532–550 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Feine, J., Morana, S., Gnewuch, U.: Measuring Service Encounter Satisfaction with Customer Service Chatbots using Sentiment Analysis (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Følstad, A., Brandtzæg, P.B.: Chatbots and the new world of HCI. Interactions 24(4), 38–42 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Fryer, L.K., Ainley, M., Thompson, A., Gibson, A., Sherlock, Z.: Stimulating and sustaining interest in a language course: an experimental comparison of chatbot and human task partners. Comput. Hum. Behav. 75, 461–468 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Goel, A., Creeden, B., Kumble, M., Salunke, S., Shetty, A., Wiltgen, B.: Using watson for enhancing human-computer co-creativity. In: 2015 AAAI Fall Symposium Series (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gonda, D.E., Luo, J., Wong, Y.L., Lei, C.U.: Evaluation of developing educational chatbots based on the seven principles for good teaching. In: 2018 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment, and Learning for Engineering (TALE), pp. 446–453. IEEE (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Gupta, S., Bostrom, R.: Research note—an investigation of the appropriation of technology-mediated training methods incorporating enactive and collaborative learning. Inf. Syst. Res. 24(2), 454–469 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Gupta, S., Jagannath, K., Aggarwal, N., Sridar, R., Wilde, S., Chen, Y.: Artificially Intelligent (AI) Tutors in the Classroom: A Need Assessment Study of Designing Chatbots to Support Student Learning (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Harley, J.M., et al.: Examining the predictive relationship between personality and emotion traits and students’ agent-directed emotions: towards emotionally-adaptive agent-based learning environments. User Model. User-Adap. Inter. 26(2–3), 177–219 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11257-016-9169-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Hone, K.S., El Said, G.R.: Exploring the factors affecting MOOC retention: a survey study. Comput. Educ. 98, 157–168 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Howlett, N.: How machine learning is developing to get more insight from complex voice-of-customer data. Appl. Mark. Anal. 3(3), 250–254 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Huang, J.X., Lee, K.S., Kwon, O.W., Kim, Y.K.: A chatbot for a dialogue-based second language learning system. CALL in a climate of change: adapting to turbulent global conditions, 151 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Jia, J., Chen, W.: Motivate the learners to practice English through playing with Chatbot CSIEC. In: Pan, Z., Zhang, X., El Rhalibi, A., Woo, W., Li, Yi. (eds.) Technologies for E-Learning and Digital Entertainment. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 5093, pp. 180–191. Springer, Heidelberg (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-69736-7_20

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  27. Keller, C., Cernerud, L.: Students’ perceptions of e-learning in university education. J. Educ. Media 27(1–2), 55–67 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kerfoot, B.P., et al.: A multi-institutional randomized control trial of web-based teaching to medical students. Acad. Med. 81(3), 224–230 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Kerly, A., Ellis, R., Bull, S.: Dialog systems in e-learning. In: Proceedings of AI2008, pp. 169–182 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Knill, O., Carlsson, J., Chi, A., Lezama, M.: An artificial intelligence experiment in college math education (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Krathwohl, D.R., Bloom, B.S., Masia, B.B.: Taxonomy of educational objectives: the classification of educational goals. In: Handbook II: Affective Domain. David McKay Company, Incorporated (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Kwon, O.W., Lee, K., Kim, Y.K., Lee, Y.: GenieTutor: a computer assisted second-language learning system based on semantic and grammar correctness evaluations. In: Critical CALL–Proceedings of the 2015 EUROCALL Conference, pp. 330–335. Research-publishing, Net (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Lee, T., et al.: Intelligent Career Advisers in Your Pocket? A Need Assessment Study of Chatbots for Student Career Advising (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Lee, Y.C., Fu, W.T.: Supporting peer assessment in education with conversational agents. In: Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces: Companion, pp. 7–8 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Lundqvist, K.O., Pursey, G., Williams, S.: Design and implementation of conversational agents for harvesting feedback in eLearning systems. In: Hernández-Leo, D., Ley, T., Klamma, R., Harrer, A. (eds.) Scaling up Learning for Sustained Impact. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 8095, pp. 617–618. Springer, Heidelberg (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40814-4_79

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  36. Ma, W., et al.: TripleNet: Triple Attention Network for Multi-Turn Response Selection in Retrieval-based Chatbots. arXiv preprint arXiv:1909.10666 (2019)

  37. Molnár, G., Szüts, Z.: The role of chatbots in formal education. In: 2018 IEEE 16th International Symposium on Intelligent Systems and Informatics (SISY), pp. 000197–000202. IEEE (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Mimoun, M.S.B., Poncin, I.: A valued agent: how ECAs affect website customers’ satisfaction and behaviors. J. Retail. Consum. Serv. 26, 70–82 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Novielli, N., de Rosis, F., Mazzotta, I.: User attitude towards an embodied conversational agent: effects of the interaction mode. J. Pragmatics 42(9), 2385–2397 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Oudeyer, P.Y., Gottlieb, J., Lopes, M.: Intrinsic motivation, curiosity, and learning: theory and applications in educational technologies. In: Progress in Brain Research, vol. 229, pp. 257–284. Elsevier (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Patton, M.Q.: Qualitative Research and Methods: Integrating Theory and Practice. SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Picciano, A.G.: Educational Leadership and Planning for Technology, 2nd edn. Prentice-Hall Inc., USA (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  43. Popovici, A., Mironov, C.: Students’ perception on using eLearning technologies. Procedia-Soc. Behav. Sci. 180, 1514–1519 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Savery, J.R., Duffy, T.M.: Problem based learning: an instructional model and its constructivist framework. Educ. Technol. 35(5), 31–38 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Serban, I.V., et al.: A deep reinforcement learning chatbot. arXiv preprint arXiv:1709.02349 (2017)

  46. Shawar, B.A., Atwell, E.: Chatbots: are they really useful? Ldv forum 22, 29–49 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Sheikh, S.A., Tiwari, V., Singhal, S.: Generative model chatbot for human resource using deep learning. In: 2019 International Conference on Data Science and Engineering (ICDSE), pp. 126–132. IEEE (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Smutny, P., Schreiberova, P.: Chatbots for learning: a review of educational chatbots for the Facebook Messenger. Comput. Educ. 151, 103862 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Söllner, M., Bitzer, P., Janson, A., Leimeister, J.M.: Process is king: evaluating the performance of technology-mediated learning in vocational software training. J. Inf. Technol. 33(3), 233–253 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Stathakarou, N., et al.: Students’ perceptions on chatbots’ potential and design characteristics in healthcare education. Stud. Health Technol. Inform. 272, 209–212 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  51. Strauss, A., Corbin, J.: Grounded theory methodology. Handbook Qual. Res. 17, 273–285 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  52. Strauss, A., Corbin, J.: Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory, 2nd edn. Sage, Thousan Oaks (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  53. Thai, M.T.T., Chong, L.C., Agrawal, N.M.: Straussian grounded theory method: an illustration. Qual. Rep. 17(5), 1–55 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  54. Thies, I.M., Menon, N., Magapu, S., Subramony, M., O’Neill, J.: How do you want your chatbot? An exploratory Wizard-of-Oz study with young, urban Indians. In: Bernhaupt, R., Dalvi, G., Joshi, A., Balkrishan, D.K., O’Neill, J., Winckler, M. (eds.) Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2017. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 10513, pp. 441–459. Springer, Cham (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67744-6_28

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  55. Tsivitanidou, O., Ioannou, A.: Users' needs assessment for chatbots’ use in Higher Education. In: Proceedings of the Central European Conference on Information and Intelligent Systems, pp. 55–62 (2021). Faculty of Organization and Informatics, University of Zagreb. ISSN 1848–2295 (Online)

    Google Scholar 

  56. Winkler, R., Söllner, M.: Unleashing the potential of chatbots in education: a state-of-the-art analysis (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  57. van der Meij, H., van der Meij, J., Harmsen, R.: Animated pedagogical agents effects on enhancing student motivation and learning in a science inquiry learning environment. Educ. Tech. Res. Dev. 63(3), 381–403 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-015-9378-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Yan, M., Castro, P., Cheng, P., Ishakian, V.: Building a chatbot with serverless computing. In: Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Mashups of Things and APIs, pp. 1–4 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  59. Zemčík, M.T.: A brief history of chatbots. In: DEStech Transactions on Computer Science and Engineering. AICAE (2019)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work is part of the project EDUBOTS, which is funded under the scheme Erasmus + KA2: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices - Knowledge Alliances (grant agreement no: 612446), and from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No 739578 and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus through the Directorate General for European Programmes, Coordination, and Development.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CYENS Centre of Excellence, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Olia Tsivitanidou & Andri Ioannou

  2. Cyprus Interaction Lab, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus

    Andri Ioannou

Authors
  1. Olia Tsivitanidou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andri Ioannou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olia Tsivitanidou .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos, Cyprus

    Panayiotis Zaphiris

  2. Research Center on Interactive Media, Smart Systems and Emerging Technologies (CYENS), Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus

    Andri Ioannou

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Tsivitanidou, O., Ioannou, A. (2021). Envisioned Pedagogical Uses of Chatbots in Higher Education and Perceived Benefits and Challenges. In: Zaphiris, P., Ioannou, A. (eds) Learning and Collaboration Technologies: Games and Virtual Environments for Learning. HCII 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12785. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77943-6_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77943-6_15

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-77942-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-77943-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation