Harnessing Learners' Perceptual Load, the Attentional States, and Interactions in Digital Learning Environments

Learning effectiveness is highly subjective. It depends on how well an individual gets involved with learning: being attentive and engaged. It has been looked into from many different aspects: educational, psychological, and technological. Yet, we could not find appropriate mechanisms to perform an in-situ assessment of the attentional state of a learner. To address this deficiency, we initiate a blended approach that brings together the educational, psychological, and technological aspects related to attention in digital learning environments. We propose to predict the attentional state of a leaner by analyzing user interactions and the perceptual load presented by the learning activity. We suggest two ways to use these predictions: (1) Notify the user about wavering of attention so that the learner will be able to enhance his engagement with the learning activity (2) As an insight to the learning activity if many learners engaged with the activity find it difficult to focus on. This work is expected to make a positive impact by enhancing effectiveness in teaching and learning in digital learning environments.

Content

Author and article information

Contributors

Indika Karunaratne

Conference

Publication date: July 2018

Publication date (Print): July 2018

Pages: 1-7

Affiliations

[0001]University of Colombo School of Computing University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Article

DOI: 10.14236/ewic/HCI2018.202

SO-VID: 8b645c2c-c548-435d-aa6c-5aaa91e7baf7

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Conference name: Proceedings of the 32nd International BCS Human Computer Interaction Conference

Conference acronym: HCI

Conference number: 32

Conference location: Belfast, UK

Conference date: 4 - 6 July 2018

Conference sponsor: Electronic Workshops in Computing (eWiC)

Conference theme: Human Computer Interaction Conference

History

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1477-9358 BCS Learning & Development

Self URI (article page): https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.14236/ewic/HCI2018.202

Self URI (journal page): https://ewic.bcs.org/

REFERENCES

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X. XiaoJ. Wang 2017 Undertanding and Detecting Divided Attention in Mobile MOOC Learning ACM Press 2411 2415 http://doi.org/10.1145/3025453.3025552
M. ZügerT. Fritz 2015 Interruptibility of Software Developers and its Prediction Using Psycho-Physiological Sensors ACM Press 2981 2990 http://doi.org/10.1145/2702123.2702593

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] R.F. AdlerR. Benbunan-Fich 2015 The Effects of Task Difficulty and Multitasking on Performance Interact. Comput. 27 430 439 http://doi.org/10.1093/iwc/iwu005

[2] R.F. AdlerR. Benbunan-Fich 2012 Juggling on a high wire: Multitasking effects on performance Int. J. Hum.-Comput. Stud. 70 156 168 http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2011.10.003

[3] B.P. BaileyJ.A. Konstan 2006 On the need for attention-aware systems: Measuring effects of interruption on task performance, error rate, and affective state Comput. Hum. Behav. 22 685 708 http://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2005.12.009

[4] M. CzerwinskiE. HorvitzS. Wilhite 2004 A diary study of task switching and interruptions ACM Press 175 182 http://doi.org/10.1145/985692.985715

[5] C.N. Davidson 2011 Now you see it: how the brain science of attention will transform the way we live, work, and learn Viking New York

[6] U.G. Foehr 2003 Media Multitasking among American Youth: Prevalence, Predictors and Pairings (Unpublished PhD Thesis). Stanford, CA, USA

[7] S. Forster 2013 Distraction and Mind-Wandering Under Load Front. Psychol. 4 http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00283

[8] S. ForsterN. Lavie 2009 Harnessing the wandering mind: The role of perceptual load Cognition 111 345 355 http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2009.02.006

[9] V.M. GonzálezG. Mark 2004 ―Constant, constant, multi-tasking craziness‖: managing multiple working spheres ACM Press 113 120 http://doi.org/10.1145/985692.985707

[10] M. HanleyM. KhairatK. TaylorR. WilsonR. Cole-FletcherD.M. Riby 2017 Classroom displays—Attraction or distraction? Evidence of impact on attention and learning from children with and without autism. Dev. Psychol. 53 1265 1275 http://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000271

[11] S.T. IqbalE. Horvitz 2007 Disruption and recovery of computing tasks: field study, analysis, and directions ACM Press 677 http://doi.org/10.1145/1240624.1240730

[12] W. James 1995 The principles of psychology: in two volumes Vol. 1: ..., Dover-books on biology, psychology and medicine Dover New York

[13] J. JoB. KimJ. Seo 2015 EyeBookmark: Assisting Recovery from Interruption during Reading ACM Press 2963 2966 http://doi.org/10.1145/2702123.2702340

[14] K. KushlevJ. ProulxE.W. Dunn 2016 ―Silence Your Phones‖: Smartphone Notifications Increase Inattention and Hyperactivity Symptoms ACM Press 1011 1020 http://doi.org/10.1145/2858036.2858359

[15] E. KyndtF. DochyK. StruyvenE. Cascallar 2011 The perception of workload and task complexity and its influence on students‘ approaches to learning: a study in higher education Eur. J. Psychol. Educ. 26 393 415 http://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-010-0053-2

[16] C. Laurie-RoseM. FreyA. EnnisA. Zamary 2014 Measuring perceived mental workload in children Am. J. Psychol. 127 107 125

[17] N. LavieD.M. BeckN. Konstantinou 2014 Blinded by the load: attention, awareness and the role of perceptual load Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 369 20130205 20130205 http://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0205

[18] N. LavieA. HirstJ.W. de FockertE. Viding 2004 Load Theory of Selective Attention and Cognitive Control J. Exp. Psychol. Gen. 133 339 354 http://doi.org/10.1037/0096-3445.133.3.339

[19] U. LeeJ. SongJ. LeeM. KoC. LeeY. KimS. YangK. YataniG. GweonK.-M. Chung 2014 Hooked on smartphones: an exploratory study on smartphone overuse among college students ACM Press 2327 2336 http://doi.org/10.1145/2556288.2557366

[20] D.M. LottridgeC. RosakranseC.S. OhS.J. WestwoodK.A. BaldoniA.S. MannC.I. Nass 2015 The Effects of Chronic Multitasking on Analytical Writing ACM Press 2967 2970 http://doi.org/10.1145/2702123.2702367

[21] G. MarkS.T. IqbalM. CzerwinskiP. Johns 2014a Bored mondays and focused afternoons: the rhythm of attention and online activity in the workplace ACM Press 3025 3034 http://doi.org/10.1145/2556288.2557204

[22] G. MarkS.T. IqbalM. CzerwinskiP. JohnsA. Sano 2016a Neurotics Can‘t Focus: An in situ Study of Online Multitasking in the Workplace Presented at the CHI 2016, ACM Press 1739 1744 http://doi.org/10.1145/2858036.2858202

[23] G. MarkS.T. IqbalM. CzerwinskiP. JohnsA. SanoY. Lutchyn 2016b Email Duration, Batching and Self-interruption: Patterns of Email Use on Productivity and Stress ACM Press 1717 1728 http://doi.org/10.1145/2858036.2858262

[24] G. MarkY. WangM. Niiya 2014b Stress and multitasking in everyday college life: an empirical study of online activity Presented at the CHI 2014, ACM Press 41 50 http://doi.org/10.1145/2556288.2557361

[25] G. MarkY. WangM. NliyaS. Reich 2016c Sleep Debt in Student Life: Online Attention Focus, Facebook, and Mood Presented at the CHI 2016 San Jose, CA, USA 5517 5528

[26] T.H. MonkD.J. BuysseJ.M. PottsJ.M. DeGraziaD.J. Kupfer 2004 Morningness-Eveningness and Lifestyle Regularity Chronobiol. Int. 21 435 443 http://doi.org/10.1081/CBI-120038614

[27] NASA Task Load Index (TLX) n.d

[28] S. RodgersB. MaloneyB. PlodererM. Brereton 2016 Managing Stress, Sleep and Technologies: An Exploratory Study of Australian University Students Presented at the ozCHI, Launceton, TAS, Australia

[29] H.L. Tubbs-CooleyC.A. MaraA.C. CarleA.P. Gurses 2018 The NASA Task Load Index as a measure of overall workload among neonatal, paediatric and adult intensive care nurses Intensive Crit. Care Nurs. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2018.01.004

[30] R. WangF. ChenZ. ChenT. LiG. HarariS. TignorX. ZhouD. Ben-ZeevA.T. Campbell 2014 StudentLife: assessing mental health, academic performance and behavioral trends of college students using smartphones ACM Press 3 14 http://doi.org/10.1145/2632048.2632054

[31] X. XiaoJ. Wang 2017 Undertanding and Detecting Divided Attention in Mobile MOOC Learning ACM Press 2411 2415 http://doi.org/10.1145/3025453.3025552

[32] M. ZügerT. Fritz 2015 Interruptibility of Software Developers and its Prediction Using Psycho-Physiological Sensors ACM Press 2981 2990 http://doi.org/10.1145/2702123.2702593

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