Share Paper: Virtual Humans and Gesturing during Multimedia Learning: An Investigation of Predictions from the Temporal Contiguity Effect

  1. Jessica Twyford, Arizona State University, United States
  2. Scotty Craig, Arizona State University, United States
Tuesday, October 22 2:45 PM-3:05 PM Las Vegas Ballroom 6

Abstract: Virtual Humans are becoming an easily available and popular component of multimedia learning that are often used in online learning environments. While they offer new affordances for multimedia learning, little systematic research has been conducted to investigate their effectiveness. The current study investigates the timing of a virtual human’s gestures for guiding the learner through a multimedia display using predictions based on the Temporal Contiguity Effect of the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning. The study randomly assigned 106 participants to one of four conditions (On-time, Gesture before, Gesture after, and No Gesture). A preliminary analysis of multiple-choice questions indicated that, ...