Title: Detecting and making use of emotions to enhance student motivation in e-learning environments

Authors: Pilar Rodriguez; Alvaro Ortigosa; Rosa M. Carro

Addresses: Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Francisco Tomás y Valiente, 11, 28049 Madrid, Spain ' Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Francisco Tomás y Valiente, 11, 28049 Madrid, Spain ' Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Francisco Tomás y Valiente, 11, 28049 Madrid, Spain

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.

Keywords: emotion detection; student motivation; adaptive e-learning systems; dynamic recommendations; computer-based learning; CBL; emotional systems; life-long learning; electronic learning; online learning; student emotions; essays; essay analysis; higher education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2014.060156

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2014 Vol.24 No.2, pp.168 - 183

Received: 24 Jan 2013
Accepted: 28 Jul 2013
Published online: 24 May 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article