Exploring the Use of Virtual Student Avatars in Classroom Discussions: A Case Study of a Small Junior High School Class

抄録

Honest discussions at the junior high school level are difficult, especially in small schools where interpersonal relationships are fixed and tightly knit. To address this issue, this study explored the potential use of virtual student avatars. The avatars provided rebuttals during discussions with a small class of three junior high school students. The results indicated that the students repeatedly refuted avatar opinions, leading to a noticeable expansion and deepening of their thinking. However, when the students were asked about their impressions of the avatars after the class, they reported negative impressions of the avatars, such as “Don’t make me feel like I am right.” Thus, there is a risk of being disliked when one person argues against the opinions of another person who has real feelings.