Quantifying the Effect of Emotional Contagion on Learner Commitment in MOOCs

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: Cognitive Processes and Development Within Instructional Technology

Abstract

A large number of attritions is now a major concern for the sustainability of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). To prevent attritions in MOOCs, supporting struggling students from the emotional angle may improve the success rate of a MOOC. This research refers to the control-value theory of achievement emotions (Pekrun, 2006) as the theoretical framework. Using the machine learning models, the research explores achievement emotions and the mechanism of how the emotional contagion influence attritions in MOOCs. The research identifies exposures to deactivating emotions as contributors to the attritions in MOOCs. More design and pedagogical implications are discussed in the end.

Authors

• Hengtao Tang, University of South Carolina

• Wanli Xing, University of Florida

• bo pei, University of Florida