Student Acceptance of Virtual Agents for Career-Oriented Mentoring: A Pilot Study for the CareerFair.ai Project

• In Event: Relationship Established Through Mentoring Builds Success

Abstract

The CareerFair.ai project is an artificial intelligence (AI)-based career exploration web platform, based on technology that allows real-life mentors to share their career-related experiences and insights with students by video-recording their own conversational virtual agents. The first CareerFair.ai prototype focuses on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers and featured five “virtual mentors.” This pilot study (n = 93) evaluated CareerFair.ai for usability and acceptance at a predominantly undergraduate-serving Hispanic-Serving Institution. Results indicated that the platform is easy-to-use and well-received by student users and produced self-reported learning gains and short-term increases in intent to pursue STEM coursework. Findings show promise for increasing students’ interest and persistence in STEM careers by scaling up real-life mentors’ outreach.

Authors

• Yuko Okado, California State University - Fullerton
  Presenting Author

• Ben Nye, University of Southern California
  Non-Presenting Author

• Bill Swartout, University of Southern California
  Non-Presenting Author