Wearables for Engagement Detection in Learning Environments: A Review

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Effective teaching-learning strategies are crucial for student engagement.
• Technological advancements enable objective measurement of engagement through physiological signals.
• Wearable sensors offer a non-invasive method for monitoring engagement in educational contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current initiatives for detecting student engagement using wearables.
• To identify commercially available and non-commercial wearable devices for engagement monitoring.
• To determine the key physiological signals associated with student engagement.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing research and commercial products.
• Analysis of wearable sensor technologies for educational applications.
• Identification of physiological parameters indicative of student engagement.

Main Results:

• Several commercial and non-commercial wearables are available for monitoring student engagement.
• Key physiological signals include heart rate, skin temperature, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram (ECG).
• Physiological responses related to stress and surprise are significant indicators of engagement.

Conclusions:

• Wearable technology provides a viable means to objectively measure student engagement.
• Understanding physiological signals offers insights into student cognitive and affective states during learning.
• Further research can refine the use of wearables for personalized and adaptive educational strategies.