Detecting and making use of emotions to enhance student motivation in e-learning environments. (1st January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rodriguez, Pilar; Ortigosa, Alvaro; Carro, Rosa M.
• Is Part Of: International journal of continuing engineering education and lifelong learning. Volume 24:Number 2(2014)
• Page Start: 168
• Page End: 183
• Publication Date: 2014-01-01
• Subjects: emotion detection -- student motivation -- adaptive e-learning systems -- dynamic recommendations -- computer-based learning -- emotional systems -- life-long learning; Engineering -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 620.00715
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1560-4624

Abstract

In this work, we investigate the possibility of detecting the student emotions by analysing their self-written essays. Detecting student emotions in e-learning environments would make it possible to enhance the learning processes accordingly. With that purpose, we have analysed 38 essays written by a student during her first three semesters in college. The results obtained support the idea that inferring user motivation from the emotions detected in texts is feasible. E-learning systems can use motivation information to propose activities aiming at increasing student engagement dynamically. In this direction, we present an example of use in an existing context-based adaptive e-learning system. Incorporating emotions to e-learning systems broadens their possibilities, allowing dynamic recommendation of activities and content adaptation according to student emotions. Finally, it makes it possible to detect potential problems within e-courses dynamically.