Steve

Virtual reality can broaden the types of interaction between students and computer tutors. As in conventional simulation-based training, the computer can watch students practice tasks, responding to questions and offering advice. However, immersive virtual environments also allow the computer tutor to inhabit the virtual world with the student. Unlike previous, disembodied computer tutors, such a "pedagogical agent" can "physically" collaborate with students, enabling new types of interaction. To illustrate the possibilities, this paper describes Steve, a pedagogical agent for virtual environments that helps students learn procedural tasks. After providing an overview of Steve's capabilities, the paper focuses on the benefits and challenges of graphically representing Steve in the virtual environment.