GPT-powered virtual avatars for teaching and learning
Lead institution: Coventry University
Country: United Kingdom
Project primary contact: David Ashworth (ad9157@coventry.ac.uk), Senior Education Technologist
Project Title: GPT-powered virtual avatars for teaching and learning
The project is: In progress
Project Summary:
In a recent initiative at Coventry University, we are utilising Unreal Engine to create 3D avatars, primarily designed for Virtual Reality (VR), with adaptable formats for laptops and other devices. These avatars are enhanced by an Unreal plugin called Convai, incorporating GPT-4 as a conversational engine.
This integration allows the avatars to engage in natural, unscripted conversations on a wide range of topics. The utility of these avatars is twofold. Firstly, they serve as a tool for students to develop various skills that typically require interaction with humans. This includes soft skills, job interview preparation, and specialised fields like healthcare, where students can simulate patient interactions.
Secondly, the avatars function as virtual tutors. They can be customised with a specific subject specialism ‘backstory’, set up by educators to provide additional support to students outside regular hours. This approach offers a flexible and innovative solution to enhance learning and skill development, aligning with the university’s commitment to leveraging emerging technologies in education.
Impact: To harness conversational generative AI to improve student outcomes through simulation.
Audience: All of our students.
This output is part of a member project – AI Garage: Creating the Future Now which collects and curates cutting-edge practice examples of AI. You can explore other submissions here.
