Running head: LEARNING WITH VIRTUAL HUMANS 1 Learning Intercultural Communication Skills with Virtual Humans: Feedback and Fidelity

We investigated the roles of feedback and fidelity in the context of a game-based, virtual learning environment for practice of intercultural communication skills as well as an associated intelligent tutoring system (ITS) that provides feedback and hints during practice. In two experiments, we compared variations on the game interface, use of the ITS, and on the form of the feedback. Our findings suggest that for learning basic intercultural communicative skills (at the level of intention), a 3-D interface with animation and sound produced equivalent learning to a more static, 2-D interface. However, learners were found to engage more deeply with animated virtual humans by taking significantly longer to decide on their actions and to interpret their responses. Although we found large learning gains in learning across conditions, there was no differential effect with the ITS engaged. The ITS did, however, have a positive impact on learner behaviors and success in untutored meetings in a new scenario, which was most pronounced when the feedback was delivered in a more general form versus a concrete style.