Keywords
machinima, soft-skills, video vignettes, avatars, animation, multimedia
Abstract
Multimedia training methods have traditionally relied heavily on video based technologies and significant research has shown these to be very effective training tools. However production of video is time and resource intensive. Machinima (pronounced 'muh-sheen-eh-mah') technologies are based on video gaming technology. Machinima technology allows video game technology to be manipulated into unique scenarios based on entertainment or training and practice applications. Machinima is the converting of these unique scenarios into video vignettes that tell a story. These vignettes can be interconnected with branching points in much the same way that education videos are interconnected as vignettes between decision points. This study addressed the effectiveness of machinima based soft-skills education using avatar actors versus the traditional video teaching application using human actors. This research also investigated the difference between presence reactions when using avatar actor produced video vignettes as compared to human actor produced video vignettes. Results indicated that the difference in training and/or practice effectiveness is statistically insignificant for presence, interactivity, quality and the skill of assertiveness. The skill of active listening presented a mixed result indicating the need for careful attention to detail in situations where body language and facial expressions are critical to communication. This study demonstrates that a significant opportunity exists for the exploitation of avatar actors in video based instruction.
Notes
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Graduation Date
2010
Advisor
Bowers, Clint
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
College
College of Sciences
Degree Program
Modeling and Simulation
Format
application/pdf
Identifier
CFE0002984
URL
http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0002984
Language
English
Release Date
May 2010
Length of Campus-only Access
None
Access Status
Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)
STARS Citation
Conkey, Curtis, "Machinima And Video-based Soft Skills Training" (2010). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4222.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/4222