An investigation into visual complexity and aesthetic preference to facilitate the creation of more appropriate learning analytics systems for children

Abstract

The purpose of learning analytics is to optimise learning and the environment in which it occurs. However, while much research has been conducted into how to measure, collect and analyse learner data, little has been conducted into how to aesthetically display information to learners in dashboards and educational materials online to maximise its appeal.This experiment examined the relationship between children's age and their aesthetic preferences towards visual complexity in e-learning web pages designed for them. It applied Berlyne's theory of aesthetic preference: a theory that suggests that people prefer a medium level of stimuli to a low or high level of stimuli. It asked 180 Taiwanese primary school children to indicate their aesthetic preferences towards web pages of high, medium and low visual complexity. The children were divided into three groups: 7-8 year-olds, 9-10 year-olds and 11-12 year-olds.When the ratings of the three age groups were looked at together, they revealed that the children preferred e-learning web pages that had a medium level of visual complexity to those that had a high or low level of visual complexity. As such, the results supported Berlyne's theory. However, when the ratings of the age groups were looked at separately with respect to aesthetic factors, differences were found. In particular, it was found that the 7-8 year-olds preferred e-learning web pages that had a high level of colourfulness while the 9-12 year-olds did not.