Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Scalable Mind-Wandering Detection for MOOCs: A Webcam-Based Approach

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Data Driven Approaches in Digital Education (EC-TEL 2017)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 10474))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 5734 Accesses

Abstract

Mind-wandering or loss of focus is a frequently occurring experience for many learners and negatively impacts learning outcomes. While in a classroom setting, a skilled teacher may be able to react to students’ loss of focus, in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) no such intervention is possible (yet). Previous studies suggest a strong relationship between learners’ mind-wandering and their gaze, making it possible to detect mind-wandering in real-time using eye-tracking devices. Existing research in this area though has made use of specialized (and expensive) hardware, and thus cannot be employed in MOOC scenarios due to the inability to scale beyond lab settings. In order to make a step towards scalable mind-wandering detection among online learners, we propose the use of ubiquitously available consumer grade webcams. In a controlled study, we compare the accuracy of mind-wandering detection from gaze data recorded through a standard webcam and recorded through a specialized and high-quality eye tracker. Our results suggest that a large-scale application of webcam-based mind-wandering detection in MOOCs is indeed possible.

C. Hauff—This work is partially supported by the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Education and Learning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. 1.

    http://edx.org/.

  2. 2.

    It is based on an iterative algorithm that each detection runs after the previous detection is finished.

  3. 3.

    The full results, as well as all hyperparameter settings of the classifiers can be found online [25].

References

  1. Bixler, R., D’Mello, S.: Toward fully automated person-independent detection of mind wandering. In: Dimitrova, V., Kuflik, T., Chin, D., Ricci, F., Dolog, P., Houben, G.-J. (eds.) UMAP 2014. LNCS, vol. 8538, pp. 37–48. Springer, Cham (2014). doi:10.1007/978-3-319-08786-3_4

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bixler, R., D’Mello, S.: Automatic gaze-based user-independent detection of mind wandering during computerized reading. User Model. User Adapt. Interact. 26(1), 33–68 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bunce, D.M., Flens, E.A., Neiles, K.Y.: How long can students pay attention in class? A study of student attention decline using clickers. J. Chem. Educ. 87(12), 1438–1443 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Cameron, P., Giuntoli, D.: Consciousness sampling in the college classroom or is anybody listening? Intellect 101(2343), 63–64 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chawla, N.V., Bowyer, K.W., Hall, L.O., Kegelmeyer, W.P.: SMOTE: synthetic minority over-sampling technique. J. Artif. Intell. Res. 16, 321–357 (2002)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  6. Engbert, R., Kliegl, R.: Microsaccades uncover the orientation of covert attention. Vision. Res. 43(9), 1035–1045 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Johnstone, A.H., Percival, F.: Attention breaks in lectures. Educ. Chem. 13(2), 49–50 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Killingsworth, M.A., Gilbert, D.T.: A wandering mind is an unhappy mind. Science 330(6006), 932 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Lindquist, S.I., McLean, J.P.: Daydreaming and its correlates in an educational environment. Learn. Individ. Differ. 21(2), 158–167 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Loh, K.K., Tan, B.Z.H., Lim, S.W.H.: Media multitasking predicts video-recorded lecture learning performance through mind wandering tendencies. Comput. Hum. Behav. 63, 943–947 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. McLeish, J.: The Lecture Method. Cambridge Institute of Education, Cambridge (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  12. McMillan, R., Kaufman, S.B., Singer, J.L.: Ode to positive constructive daydreaming. Front. Psychol. 4, 626 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mills, C., Bixler, R., Wang, X., D’Mello, S.K.: Automatic gaze-based detection of mind wandering during narrative film comprehension. In: EDM 2016, pp. 30–37 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Papoutsaki, A., Daskalova, N., Sangkloy, P., Huang, J., Laskey, J., Hays, J.: Webgazer: scalable webcam eye tracking using user interactions. In: IJCAI 2016, pp. 3839–3845 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Rayner, K.: Eye movements in reading and information processing: 20 years of research. Psychol. Bull. 124(3), 372–422 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Risko, E.F., Anderson, N., Sarwal, A., Engelhardt, M., Kingstone, A.: Everyday attention: variation in mind wandering and memory in a lecture. Appl. Cogn. Psychol. 26(2), 234–242 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Rodriguez, O.: The concept of openness behind c and x-MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). Open Praxis 5(1), 67–73 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Salvucci, D.D., Goldberg, J.H.: Identifying fixations and saccades in eye-tracking protocols. In: Proceedings of the 2000 Symposium on Eye Tracking Research & Applications, pp. 71–78. ACM (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Smallwood, J., Fishman, D.J., Schooler, J.W.: Counting the cost of an absent mind: mind wandering as an underrecognized influence on educational performance. Psychon. Bull. Rev. 14(2), 230–236 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Smallwood, J., Schooler, J.W.: The restless mind. Psychol. Bull. 132(6), 946–958 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Stuart, J., Rutherford, R.: Medical student concentration during lectures. Lancet 312(8088), 514–516 (1978)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Szpunar, K.K., Khan, N.Y., Schacter, D.L.: Interpolated memory tests reduce mind wandering and improve learning of online lectures. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 110(16), 6313–6317 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Tan, T., Zou, H., Chen, C., Luo, J.: Mind wandering and the incubation effect in insight problem solving. Creat. Res. J. 27(4), 375–382 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Wilson, K., Korn, J.H.: Attention during lectures: beyond ten minutes. Teach. Psychol. 34(2), 85–89 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Zhao, Y., Lofi, C., Hauff, C.: EC-TEL 2017 companion webpage (2017). https://yue-zhao.github.io/MWDET_Project/

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Web Information Systems, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

    Yue Zhao, Christoph Lofi & Claudia Hauff

Authors
  1. Yue Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christoph Lofi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Claudia Hauff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yue Zhao .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University, Lyon, France

    Élise Lavoué

  2. German Institute for International Educational Research, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany

    Hendrik Drachsler

  3. KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Katrien Verbert

  4. University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France

    Julien Broisin

  5. Pontificia Universidad, Santiago de Chile, Chile

    Mar PĂ©rez-SanagustĂ­n

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this paper

Cite this paper

Zhao, Y., Lofi, C., Hauff, C. (2017). Scalable Mind-Wandering Detection for MOOCs: A Webcam-Based Approach. In: Lavoué, É., Drachsler, H., Verbert, K., Broisin, J., Pérez-Sanagustín, M. (eds) Data Driven Approaches in Digital Education. EC-TEL 2017. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 10474. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66610-5_24

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66610-5_24

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-66609-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-66610-5

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy