An Exploratory Study of Interest-Boredom Detection Using Facial Action Units during Interactive Reading (Stage 1, 2:20 PM)

• In Event: e-Lightning Ed-Talk Session 8 - Stage 1

Abstract

Decades of interest studies shown strong connections between learners’ interest and learning outcomes. However, we lacked reliable methods to detect real-time interest or boredom during learning. In this exploratory study, 14 university students completed four interactive reading tasks during which facial action units (AUs) were recorded and analyzed. Results revealed heterogeneity in AUs between interest and boredom, along with evidence that AU09 and AU05 frequencies were significantly different from two states. AU cooccurrence strength and variability of AU reoccurrence significantly differed, with highest cooccurrence strength and greatest reoccurrence variability during boredom, lowest during interest, and intermediate in neutral states. Findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the feasibility of using AUs as reliable real-time indicators of students’ affective states in learning tasks.

Authors

• Qiyuan Zheng, University of Toronto - OISE

• Jiaju Huang, University of Toronto - OISE

• Earl Woodruff, University of Toronto - OISE

• Suzanne E. Hidi, University of Toronto