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ABSTRACT
New advancements in technology have made machines teachers, or technology-powered robots or AI that assist in the overall learning experience, a possibility. Though adoption rates are currently low, colleges and universities will likely incorporate some aspects of machine teachers (e.g., AI, robots) in their curriculums in the foreseeable future. However, little is known about how to create an effective machine teacher-based education. As an initial step, the present study examines whether an AI instructor’s communication style would have an impact on students’ perceptions about an AI instructor-based education. To test this inquiry, the study conducted an online experiment using a 2 (communication styles: functional vs. relational) x 2 (course topic: natural science vs. social science) between-subjects design. Primary results indicate that students develop more favorable perceptions about an AI instructor-based education when the AI instructor is relational rather than functional. This tendency is particularly strong when listening to a social science lecture. Further, social presence of an AI instructor functions as a mediator, which explains the reason why a relational AI instructor leads to more favorable perceptions about an AI instructor-based education is because of one’s social presence of an AI instructor. Collectively, the study’s findings indicate the importance of communication styles and social presence of an AI instructor.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Jihyun Kim
Jihyun Kim is an Associate Professor in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media at the University of Central Florida. Her primarily research focuses on the effects and implications of new media/communication technologies for meaningful outcomes (e.g., education, health). Her research also examines human-machine communication in diverse contexts.
Kelly Merrill
Kelly Merrill Jr. is a Ph.D. student at The Ohio State University. His primary research interests are at the intersection of communication technology and health communication. In particular, his research investigates the use of communication technologies for health-related outcomes.
Kun Xu
Kun Xu is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Telecommunication, University of Florida. His research focuses on the intersection of human-computer interaction and media psychology. He investigates how people perceive, evaluate, and respond to robotic technologies such as social robots, computer agents and virtual assistants.
Deanna D. Sellnow
Deanna D. Sellnow is a Professor of strategic communication at the University of Central Florida. Her research focuses on strategic instructional communication in a variety of contexts including risk, crisis, and health. She has conducted numerous funded research projects and has published in national and international journals.