Taking a “Pulse” in on-line learning: an effective engagement tool?
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Authors
Brice, L.
Keywords
Online learning
Description of form
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Rights holder
Issue Date
2024-08
Peer-reviewed status
Type
Conference paper
Abstract
Engagement in online learning is increasingly described and monitored through sophisticated learner analytics that measure the time and activity of learners as they progress through their course materials. This data cannot, however, describe or monitor learner feelings (known as academic emotions) in their experience of on-line learning. This exploratory paper addresses a gap in research that considers how engagement tools, within the online learning
environment, may influence facilitator responsiveness to learners’ academic emotions. The aim is to explore whether a specific on-line learning platform engagement tool, a ‘Pulse’ can provide insight (for facilitators) into learner emotional states and whether that insight provokes or influences on-line facilitators’ actions and/or responsiveness. This paper provides background information related to current understanding of academic emotions and specific detail on the use of the Pulse tool. This small-scale mixed methods study includes data collected from a first intake of four new programmes in Initial Teacher Education at the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. The findings of this paper provide description for online learning designers and facilitators in how a simple Pulse tool might be used to understand learners’ emotional experiences in online learning. Findings further highlight the need to actively foster attention to learner emotions in online learning environments, and for seeking new or enhanced methods of intervening where academic emotions are negative and deactivating. There are implications for the design of Learning Management Systems in creating more sophisticated tools for recognising academic emotions, and for using these tools in ways that cross-reference with other data related to learner outcomes and experiences.
Citation
Brice, L. P. (2024). Taking a “Pulse” in on-line learning: an effective engagement tool? In J. P. Egan (Ed.), Proceedings of the Flexible Learning Association of New Zealand Conference (pp. 57-65). https://flanz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/flanz-proceedings-final-compressed.pdf