The Impact of COVID-19-Induced Anxiety on Engagement and Disaffection While Learning With Agent-Based Online Simulation

• In Event: Examination of Anxiety and Academic Stress

Abstract

Uncertainty, isolation and financial stress due to the emerging COVID-19 outbreak may induce anxiety. As such this period offers a unique opportunity to investigate the impact of anxiety-state on learning processes, specifically on students' engagement and disengagement in terms of boredom. Accordingly, the present study characterized the learning of 187 undergraduate students while interacting with agent-based simulation in the midst of COVID-19 quarantine. Using a quasi-experimental design, we found that anxiety due to COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on behavioral and emotional engagement, and triggered boredom. Lower levels of behavioral and cognitive engagement were associated with lower achievements. These findings suggest that emotional-well-being plays a great role in students’ learning process. Implications are discussed.

Authors

• Ilana Dubovi, Tel Aviv University

• Idit Adler, Tel Aviv University