This paper presents two interventions to improve the peer learning practice in an Information System course; namely (1) class-based peer tutoring in small groups and (2) discussions on Facebook group of the course. The article aims at comparing the correlations between the learning outcomes with class-based peer tutoring as well as with Facebook engagement. The findings show that although the l...

Modeling learners’ emotional states is a promising tool for enhancing learning outcomes and tutoring abilities. In this paper, we present a new perspective of learner emotional modeling according to two fundamental dimensions, namely mental workload and engagement. We hypothesize that analyzing results from learners’ workload and engagement evolution can help Intelligent Tutoring Systems diagno...

This paper investigates the issues surrounding the use of 3D virtual worlds to enhance learner immersion through improved learner engagement. It is based on findings from the JISC-funded DEsign of Learning spaces in 3D Virtual Environments (DELVE) project at the University of Nottingham and the Open University. Given continued confusion about the term immersion, what it means for a learner to b...

Internet and Web 2.0 technologies have contributed significantly to distance learning and completely changed how people interact online, and in turn, the role of the tutor as facilitator is given a new emphasis. According to the theory of Communities of Practice and the model of Situated Learning, learning is largely a social practice rather than something individuals do. With the increasing pr...

We study the impact of question difficulty on learners’ engagement and learning using an experiment with an open online educational system for adaptive practice of geography. The experiment shows that easy questions are better for short term engagement, whereas difficult questions are better for long term engagement and learning. These results stress the necessity of careful formalization of go...

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It is generally acknowledged that engagement plays a critical role in learning. Unfortunately, the study of engagement has been stymied by a lack of valid and efficient measures. We introduce the advanced, analytic, and automated (AAA) approach to measure engagement at fine-grained temporal resolutions. The AAA measurement approach is grounded in embodied theories of cognition and affect, which...