Usability and emotional obstacles in e-learning

Abstract

Emotions are important in interaction and open a vital perspective to e-learning. E-learning courses have higher dropout rates than the traditional courses taught in classrooms, and it seems logical to ask whether emotional processes could explain a part of them. This research investigates how emotions are involved in students’ behavior during e-learning courses. As human emotions are not independent of human cognitions and appraisal, we also consider here how cognitive difficulties affect emotional stances in e-learning on the ground of feedback collected from an e-learning course. However, here the main focus of emotion relevant cognitive processes is related to competence and usability. Usability problems lead either to frustration and shame or pride or self-confidence. It seems that the usability threshold divides subjects emotionally in e-learning environments.