Ateneo Laboratory for the Learning Sciences

The full paper entitled  “The Effects of an Interactive Software Agent on Student Affective Dynamics while Using an Intelligent Tutoring System” co-authored by Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo, Ryan S. Baker, Jenilyn Agapito, Julieta Nabos, Ma. Concepcion Repalam, Salvador S. Reyes, Jr., and Ma. Ofelia Clarissa Z. San Pedro was just accepted for publication in the IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing journal.

The journal is a cross-disciplinary, international publication meant to “disseminate results of research on the design of systems that can recognize, interpret, and simulate human emotions and related affective phenomena.”  The article studies the affective states exhibited by students using an intelligent tutoring system for scatterplot generation and interpretation, with and without an agent.  Boredom, confusion and engaged concentration persisted in both conditions.

Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo, Thor Collin Andallaza and Jonathan Jason King Li joined representatives from De La Salle University at a workshop on Affective and Empathic Computing held at Palawan State University, Puerto Princesa, Palawan on October 27. Dr. Rodrigo gave an overview of affective computing. Mr. Andallaza discussed his work with Rina Joy Jimenez on the development of an affect-sensitive agent for Aplusix. Finally, Mr. King Li demonstrated his work with Tricia Monsod on the development of an affect sensitive game.

Conference Pictures

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Maria Ofelia (Sweet) San Pedro and Diane Marie Lee each presented full papers at the bi-annual Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction Conference held at the University of Memphis, Memphis, TN on October 8 to 12, 2011.

Lee, D. M., Rodrigo, M. M. T. R., Baker, Ryan S. J. D., Sugay, J. O., & Coronel, A. (2011). Exploring the relationship between novice programmer confusion and achievement. In S. D’Mello & A Graesser (Eds.): ACII 2011, Part I, LNCS 6974, 175-184, Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag. [PDF]

Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo, Maria Ofelia San Pedro, Diane Marie Lee, Rosalind Picard	Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo, Ryan Baker, Diane Marie Lee
Maria Ofelia San Pedro

On October 3, 2011, the Commission on Higher Education announced that the Affective Computing group of the Ateneo de Manila University (now the Ateneo Laboratory for the Learning Sciences) garnered first place at the CHED Best Higher Education Institution Research Program. The award is “intended to recognize both the Program implementer and the HEI for the research program that has contributed significantly to the generation of new knowledge, advancement of the discipline’s, and the development efforts of the nation.”