Interface Design for Educational Chatbot to Increase Engagement for Online Learning: A Conceptual Design

As students in online learning spaces find it difficult to stay engaged with content, the integration of chatbots can be seen as a promising solution (Tsivitanidou & Ioannou, 2021). Engagement in an online learning environment typically occurs through an interface that outlines the functionality. As a learner interacts with a chatbot, its functionality can lead to them having an experience that assists with learning or one that is hindered by the design of the interface. This study uses design-based research as a way to partner with authors of extant literature to model what an ideal chatbot’s interface should look like. The findings outline nine key features that can increase engagement for students. When modelled, the features create a design that, by description, can be deemed complex but based on the learning need.