A novel method for a technology enhanced learning recommender system considering changing user interest based on neural collaborative filtering

Abstract

This study introduces an advanced recommender system for technology enhanced learning (TEL) that synergizes neural collaborative filtering, sentiment analysis, and an adaptive learning rate to address the limitations of traditional TEL systems. Recognizing the critical gap in existing approaches—primarily their neglect of user emotional feedback and static learning paths—our model innovatively incorporates sentiment analysis to capture and respond to nuanced emotional feedback from users. Utilizing Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers for sentiment analysis, our system not only understands but also respects user privacy by processing feedback without revealing sensitive information. The adaptive learning rate, inspired by AdaGrad, allows our model to adjust its learning trajectory based on the sentiment scores associated with user feedback, ensuring a dynamic response to both positive and negative sentiments. This dual approach enhances the system’s adaptability to changing user preferences and improves its contentment understanding. Our methodology involves a comprehensive analysis of both the content of learning materials and the behaviors and preferences of learners, facilitating a more personalized learning experience. By dynamically adjusting recommendations based on real-time user data and behavioral analysis, our system leverages the collective insights of similar users and relevant content. We validated our approach against three datasets—MovieLens, Amazon, and a proprietary TEL dataset—and saw significant improvements in recommendation precision, F-score, and mean absolute error. The results indicate the potential of integrating sentiment analysis and adaptive learning rates into TEL recommender systems, marking a step forward in developing more responsive and user-centric educational technologies. This study paves the way for future advancements in TEL systems, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence and adaptability in enhancing the learning experience.