Utilization of Bio-Signals to Understand the Physiological States of e-Learners and Improve the Learning Contents

C. M. Althaff IRFAN  Shusaku NOMURA  Takaoi YAMAGISHI  Yoshimasa KUROSAWA  Kuniaki YAJIMA  Katsuko T. NAKAHIRA  Nobuyuki OGAWA  Yoshimi FUKUMURA  

Publication
IEICE TRANSACTIONS on Information and Systems   Vol.E94-D   No.6   pp.1235-1242
Publication Date: 2011/06/01
Online ISSN: 1745-1361
DOI: 10.1587/transinf.E94.D.1235
Print ISSN: 0916-8532
Type of Manuscript: PAPER
Category: Educational Technology
Keyword: 
e-learning,  skin conductance level,  skin conductance response,  ECG,  heart rate variability,  

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Summary: 
This paper presents a new dimension in e-learning by collecting and analyzing physiological data during real-world e-learning sessions. Two different content materials, namely Interactive (IM) and Non-interactive (N-IM), were utilized to determine the physiological state of e-learners. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Skin Conductance Level (SCL) were recorded continuously while learners experienced IM and N-IM for about 25 minutes each. Data from 18 students were collected for analysis. As a result significant difference between IM and N-IM was observed in SCL (p <.01) meanwhile there were no significance in other indices such as heart rate and its variability, and skin conductance response (SCR). This study suggests a new path in understanding e-learners' physiological state with regard to different e-learning materials; the results of this study suggest a clear distinction in physiological states in the context of different learning materials.