Enhancing collaborative learning platforms: leveraging artificial intelligence for improved social presence

Abstract

Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) supports the learning process by incorporating technologies that emphasize social interactions. A critical component of successful CSCL implementation is social presence, which reflects the personal connection between learners in a digital environment. This paper investigates the role of CSCL tools in fostering social presence and explores the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance this aspect, focusing on PyramidApp as a case study in university settings. Through observations and interviews, this study identifies how the features of PyramidApp promote social presence and suggests several improvements: upgrading the user interface with engaging visuals, enhancing chat functionality with features like emojis, direct replies, and AI feedback, redesigning the answer improvement process with real-time cursor displays, and refining the social awareness feature for more insightful feedback. Building on these suggestions, the paper develops a proof of concept for an Intelligent Assistant designed to scaffold learner interactions and enhance social presence. Using Large Language Models (LLMs), the proposed approach is evaluated through a simulation by integrating LLM interactions within the PyramidApp interface. Customisable prompts are crafted to generate LLM outputs representing Intelligent Assistant interventions, which are found to successfully embody and promote social presence through both tone and content, demonstrating potential for enhancing social presence in CSCL applications. The Intelligent Assistant is found to effectively guide interactions, foster a collaborative and friendly atmosphere, and support knowledge creation, receiving high usability scores. The findings also highlight areas for further exploration, such as experimenting with different personas for the Intelligent Assistant and optimizing the frequency and timing of interactions to maximize its effectiveness in enhancing social presence in collaborative educational contexts.