Publication Information

Authors:

• Genaro Rebolledo Méndez, Universidad Veracruzana
• N. Sofia Huerta-Pacheco, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
• Ryan S.J.D Baker, Columbia University
• Benedict du Boulay, University of Sussex

Pages:

• 174-195

Keywords:

• Affect dynamics, Meta-affect, Educational innovation, Educational research, Affect, Intelligent tutoring systems, Mathematics

Abstract:

• Many previous studies have highlighted the influence of learners’ affective states on learning with tutoring systems. However, the associations between learning and learners’ meta-affective capability are still unclear. The goal of this paper is to analyse meta-affective capability and its influence on learning outcomes as well as the dynamics of affect over time. Two criteria, awareness and self-regulation, were employed to define meta-affective capability. An exploratory study (n = 54) was conducted in which students at the secondary level were asked to interact with an intelligent tutoring system for mathematics and to self-report their affect during their interactions with the system. Pre-post learning outcomes were also measured. A post-hoc comparison of learning gains was made between more meta-affectively capable and less meta-affectively capable students. The results provide some empirical evidence to support the hypothesis that having meta-affective capability is positively associated with learning. Students not demonstrating meta-affective capability seemed to transition frequently from boredom to frustration (p = .0284) and from concentration to neutral (p = 0.0017). However, only a small percentage of the sample were classified as having meta-affective capability, indicating that it is important to scaffold students who are not meta-affectively capable.