Webibliography Blog: Applying the Personalization Principle
Personalization Principle 1: Use Conversational Rather Than Formal Style
Empirical evidence, based on cognitive theories of learning, indicates
that the use of conversational language such as first- and
second-person language offers more effective learning experiences than using formal language (Clark & Mayer, 2011).
Using on-screen pedagogical human-like
agents or animated agents can expose the author’s personal characteristics and
provides some self-revealing comments and characteristics, enhancing the
learner’s desire to learn and allowing the learner to feel some connection to
the agent (Clark & Mayer, 2011).
Psychological Reasons for the Personalization Principle: learners try to make sense of the material, so instructors should prime the process. Learners will work harder to encode material when they perceive it to a conversation (Clark & Mayer, 2011).
Example:
· “This
program is about what type of plants survive on different planets.”
· “You
are about to start a journey where you will be visiting different planets.”
Example:
"The
white dwarf cools down slowly in time.
"The
white dwarf cools down slowly in time. Now we know what will happen to our
smallest star in the end. "
People treat computers like real people
(how about the movie Her?). The human voice, particularly in the dialect and
language of the learner, as opposed to a foreign accent, stimulates better
learning than a machine-simulated voice. This is known as the voice principle (Clark
& Mayer, 2011).
Personalization Principle 2: Use
Effective On-Screen Coaches to Promote Learning
Pedagogical
Agents: These are on-screen characters who assist in the learning process; they
can be cartoon-like, a talking-head video, a reality avatar, or use
machine-simulated voices, or a human voice, or in printed text. Students who
see lessons with an agents perform better.
Suggestions for
using an agent:
·
On screen agents should be speaking, as opposed to text on
the screen.
·
Speech should be conversational, rather than formal.
·
Voice should be human-like.
·
Agents should provide instruction rather than entertainment-visuals
with no content are not agents. A cartoon puppy that doesn’t offer any
meaningful dialog is not an agent.
·
Use first- and second-person language (I, we, me, my, you,
your).
(Clark &
Mayer, 2011).
Personalization Principle 3: Make the
Author Visible to Promote Learning
Using branding serves the purpose of motivating
learners. When authors/facilitators are visible, the student perceives this
person as a personal guide. There is a relationship between author and reader
that is human-like. The learner feels they are in a conversation with the facilitator.
The other can be too self-revealing, and this can distract the learner. The
social cues should be offered at just the right amount as to not distract the
learner (Clark & Mayer, 2011).
Clark,
R. C. & Mayer, R. E. (2011). E-Learning and the science of
instruction-third edition. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer.