Role Of Emotions In Learning Research Articles

Emotions in Language Learning: Understanding Foreign Language Enjoyment and Anxiety in Higher Education

The significant role of emotions in learning was reemphasized during school and university closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, upon returning to campus, cognitive learning outcomes have reclaimed a dominating position in the university curriculum, while affective learning appears to have been disregarded. The present study contributes to the discussion on the significance of social-emotional learning in higher education. Therefore, the primary objective of this inquiry is to trace the perceived levels of foreign language enjoyment (FLE) and foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) in order to understand factors which contribute to their emergence. The research sample comprises 108 Polish university students majoring in English and enrolled in a bachelor’s programme. The findings demonstrate that language enjoyment is more prevalent among participants than language anxiety. The causes of language enjoyment are associated with teacher-student and peer-peer interactions as well as the classroom atmosphere, while language anxiety is reported to be linked to the fear of negative evaluation of students’ academic performance, test anxiety, and communication apprehension. These results suggest that English Department students are not exempt from experiencing language classroom anxiety, and engaging in practical English classes may be a source of a range of positive and negative emotions.

If Students Don’t Feel it, They Won’t Learn it: Early Career Secondary Social Studies Educators Plan for Emotional Engagement

This qualitative case study examines early career social studies educators’ knowledge of the role of emotion in teaching and learning. More specifically, we examine how our efforts to expand social studies educators’ understanding of emotion, shifted their perception of the role of emotion in learning social studies content and how they can use this knowledge to plan instruction. Prior to beginning their “emotion education,” all participants described the role of emotion in teaching and learning as important for relationship-building and as something to be carefully managed. They focused their efforts in the classroom on creating a welcoming environment for their students and managing their students’ emotions. Though they described their classrooms as emotional spaces, none had explicitly considered the role of emotion in learning content .As they learned about the role of emotion in cognitive processes like memory and problem-solving, participants began to recognize the need to rethink their pedagogical choices. However, none of the participants embraced or accepted an expanded view of emotions as social and political forces. Reluctant to consider how emotions shape our identities, our communities and our politics, these social studies educators did not meaningfully engage in a critical examination of how social studies curriculum can contribute to “schooling” students’ emotions. Findings from this initial study suggest it is important to engage social studies educators in critical awareness of their own emotions and critical examination of what emotions “do” in the world and how the social studies content we teach can contribute to the “schooling” of our students’ emotions.

Expressing emotions, discussing controversial issues: a pilot study focused on veganism

ABSTRACT The role of emotions in learning has been the focus of much debate in teaching circles, as has the question of discussing controversial issues in the classroom. The aim of this small-scale inquiry was to investigate how two groups of intermediate level students of French as a foreign language expressed emotion in discussing the controversial issue of veganism. Our analysis focuses on the notions of ‘emotion lexicon’ and ‘rich point’ in exploring the video recordings of two classes engaged in discussion. We highlight how the students used a range of means to contribute to the discussion; their emotion lexicon appeared to be relatively limited but they made use of interactional and non-verbal means and communicated their feelings through the exchange of personal anecdotes and testimonies. We frame our approach within the tenets of critical pedagogy, and show how discussion of a controversial issue can trigger students’ engagement and further reflection. We conclude by emphasising the important role of the teacher, probably best fulfilled as a neutral guide in the discussion.

Investigating the relationship between EFL learners’ engagement and their achievement emotions

The examination of emotion and its contribution to L2 learning began four decades ago; however, despite the advancements in this area, there seems to be also a need for more research on the role of emotion in learning in the milieu of education. Accordingly, the present study has been intended to shed light on the relationship between Iranian language learners’ engagement and their achievement emotions. To this end, 403 Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners were recruited, and their achievement emotions and engagement were examined by completing the associated questionnaires. The data were analyzed by the numerical method of Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), and through the Smart PLS and MPLS, it was revealed that there is a considerable association between learners’ engagement and achievement emotions. The results also indicated that EFL learners’ achievement emotions could significantly predict their engagement in this setting. Moreover, considering various dimensions, it was found that enjoyment has a positive and significant effect on students’ engagement. However, some dimensions of emotions such as anger, anxiety, and hopelessness were reported to be insignificant. In a nutshell, the paper provides some implications for language teachers and learners.

Recognising and Expressing Emotions: Difficulties of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Learning a Foreign Language and How to Resolve Them

Recognising emotions, facial expressions and tone of voice and body language, expressing and managing their own emotions, and understanding and responding to other people’s emotions are often difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder. Since the emotional codes of individuals with autism spectrum disorder are different, those people will possibly be awkward in expressing some throughout their lives. Although it might seem that children with autism spectrum disorder do not respond emotionally, the ability to understand their facial expressions could lead to an improvement in their social interaction difficulties. In addition, since autistic expressions might be unique to each child, recognising their emotions is important when delivering a personalised intervention to a child with autism spectrum disorder. In recent decades, researchers have become increasingly interested in the role of emotions in learning and teaching a foreign language beyond heavily investigated topics such as foreign language anxiety and motivation and attitudes towards the foreign language. In this paper, how emotions impact the motivation and success of children with autism spectrum disorder while they are learning a foreign language is presented. Challenges, opportunities and future research directions in this domain are given.

Examining the Role of Emotions in Learning with Technology

Many theorists suggest that emotions and learning are highly interconnected, however, research on the impact of emotions is limited. This study explored the emotions of 220 pre-service teachers while they learned new technology tools and the relationship of these emotions with technology experience and preferred learning strategies. Happiness was most often expressed while learning with technology, followed by anxiety, anger and sadness. Technology experience was positively correlated with happiness and negatively correlated with anxiety, sadness and anger. Experimental and authentic learning strategies were positively correlated with happiness and negatively correlated with anger, anxiety and sadness. Direct instruction was positively correlated with happiness, negatively correlated with anger and unrelated to anxiety and sadness. Finally, a social learning strategy was positively correlated with anxiety and unrelated to happiness, anger and sadness. Implications for and for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed.

The Neuroscience of Emotions and the Role Emotions Play in Learning

The relationship between emotions and learning has always been of great interest in the field of educational neuroscience. Advancements in brain imaging techniques have given us better understanding on the role these affective components have in various cognitive processes including memory, attention, decision-making and social functioning (Immordino-Yang & Damasio, 2007). As educators and researchers in the field of educational neuroscience, our main objective in this paper is to bridge the gap between education and neuroscience. Applying scientific research to the classroom is not a straightforward process (Shearer, 2020; Howard-Jones, 2014). However, we believe that educators can benefit a lot when exposed to scientific research in order to base their classroom practice on solid grounds. Additionally, educators have a lot to offer from their first-hand experience in schools, especially when it comes to the role of emotions in teaching and learning. A meta-analysis of current research in the field will be presented to highlight the important role of emotions in learning. By understanding this role, we aim to inform and transform educational practices in the local scenario and beyond.

Emotion and its relation to cognition from Vygotsky’s perspective

Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory (VST) has been increasingly utilised as an effective framework to account for the role of emotions in learning and development. Yet, within VST, emotion has neither been systemically theorised nor investigated. This paper contributes to the literature by offering a theoretical discussion of Vygotsky’s perspective on emotion and its relation to cognition. Employing a content analysis approach, three of Vygotsky’s key texts on emotions were closely read and analysed with emerging themes grouped into a system of interrelated theoretical tenets. The insights gained from this paper benefit scholars who are interested in understanding and researching emotions from a VST perspective as well as provide important implications for educational practices.

The affective component of learning in simulation-based education \u2013 facilitators\u2019 strategies to establish psychological safety and accommodate nursing students\u2019 emotions

BackgroundActive learning situations such as simulation-based education (SBE) are found to trigger a wide range of emotions among students. Facilitators have an important educational role in SBE which include being attentive and adaptive to students’cognitive and affective responses. Although the importance of emotions in SBE is recognized in facilitator guidelines, little is known about how facilitators accommodate student affect. Hence, this study explores facilitators’ strategies for addressing students’ emotions in SBE.MethodIndividual interviews with nine facilitators were performed and transcripts were subjected to qualitative analyses in accordance with interpretive description approach.ResultsFindings show that facilitators are attentive to and continuously assess students’ emotional responses in SBE. Both positive emotions, such as interest and surprise, and negative emotions such as anxiety are cultivated, yet adapted to the perceived needs of the individual student. Psychological safety was seen as a prerequisite for optimal learning, regardless of the students’ previous level of knowledge. Furthermore, significant learning was seen as something that might also arise from uncomfortable experiences, such as students realizing their own mistakes or uncertainty. Hence facilitators were found to balance levels of difficulty, emotional arousal and psychological safety during the various phases of SBE.ConclusionFacilitators recognize the emotional dimension of learning in SBE and have numerous strategies for accommodating students’ emotions. This study highlights the complexity of the facilitator’s role in adapting training to individual cognitive and emotional needs. These findings have implications for facilitator training which should include awareness of the role of emotions in learning and strategies for observing and accommodating training to meet emotional needs.

Teaching to Empower: Leveraging the Neuroscience of Now to Help Students Become Self-Regulated Learners.

In his book Descartes' Error, neurologist Antonio Damasio argues that humans do not make decisions by relying exclusively on the rational or reason-oriented parts of their brain (2008). Evidence from patients with brain damage reveal that our abilities to reason and make decisions are greatly influenced by our emotions (Damasio et al., 1990; Saver and Damasio, 1991). In fact, our emotions and how we feel act as a gateway to our thinking and learning by providing "the bridge between rational [prefrontal cortex] and nonrational processes" [brainstem and limbic structures]." (Damasio, 2008). Understanding the ways in which our brain processes sensory inputs and integrates those inputs into our ongoing emotional state is critical for helping students become self-regulated, sophisticated learners. In the following article, I will begin by briefly summarizing the role of emotions in learning and the impact of toxic stress on our students' ability to engage, learn, and thrive. I will then define and present a trauma-informed teaching and learning paradigm with practical strategies that empower students to continue to learn and succeed. I will address a few misconceptions about trauma-informed education. I will conclude by making a plea to you, members of the undergraduate neuroscience community, by presenting a case for the utility and moral imperative of educating our students about the basic functioning of their brains, especially as it relates to emotional regulation and learning.

Introduction to the Special Issue on Emotions in Reading, Learning, and Communication

ABSTRACT In our current era, learners are confronted with many and varying sources of information, such as news media, books, websites, social media, scientific articles, communicative interactions, and more. In addition, individuals must learn from such sources, making it important to critically examine the factors underlying learning from text and discourse. Importantly, the valence and activation of readers’ emotions can influence the quality of readers’ processing, which could help or hinder the learner’s ability to understand and learn from text related to important issues. Although theoretical and empirical work documents the role of emotions in learning and motivation, reading- and discourse-specific models are needed. At present, the literature examining reading presents conflicting findings related to the influence of emotion on textual processing. However, asproposed in the Process, Emotion, Task (PET) framework, the discrepant findings related to reading processes may be explained by interactions between specific reader emotions and the type of task. Hence, examining both emotions and features of the text are critical when considering how to support readers’ ability to comprehend, evaluate, and learn from text. This article introduces a special issue of Discourse Processes that brings together experts engaging in empirical studies on how emotion influences learning and processing for varying text types in different contexts. Our goal is to further work toward developing a more cohesive understanding of the influence of reader emotions in supporting learning, comprehension, processing, and conceptual change and to draw important connections to the broader fields of text and discourse, learning, and motivation. Such connections are critical for improving learning experiences across a variety of settings and enhancing the relevance of discourse-processing research.

The role of epistemic emotions in learning from others.

Phillips et al. discuss whether knowledge or beliefs are more basic representations of others' minds, focusing on the primary function of knowledge representation: learning from others. We discuss links between emotion and "knowledge versus belief," and particularly the role of emotions in learning from others in mechanisms such as "social epistemic emotions" and "affective social learning."

Emotion regulation and student engagement: Age and gender differences during adolescence

Research has documented the role of emotions in learning and emotion regulation for student engagement (SE). However, knowledge regarding the predictive power of emotion regulation strategies (ERSs) on SE at different age-groups was lacking. Also, our study aimed to provide data on ERSs use based on age and gender since findings are mixed. This cross-sectional study included a representative sample (N = 1507) of Portuguese students between 10 and 25 years. The sample was divided into four age-groups (10-12, 13-15, 16-18, 19-25). Results indicated ERSs varied with age, with some having a linear developmental pattern (e.g., Putting into Perspective) and others a non-linear (e.g., Positive Reappraisal). SE was higher in females and the youngest and oldest age-groups. Higher SE was related to using more adaptive strategies, and the ERS Refocus on Planning best correlated with the higher SE scores for every age-group.

An Overview of Research on Emotions in Asian Learners and Educators: Implications and Future Directions

In contrast to a burgeoning research literature on the role of emotions in learning and instruction in Western culture, research on how emotions impact student and teacher development in Asian countries is lacking. The present paper reviews seven publications included in the 2019 Special Issue of The Asia–Pacific Education Researcher examining the role of emotions in Asian learners and in Asian educators. Three studies conducted with Asian students across education levels (primary, secondary, post-secondary) and countries (China, Singapore) explored students’ emotions ranging from global constructs (engagement, satisfaction) to discrete experiences (hope, gratitude) in relation to personality, self-regulation, persistence, and contextual variables (perfectionism, self-compassion, resilience, relatedness). Four studies additionally investigated the emotional experiences of pre-service and practicing Asian teachers (China, Hong Kong, Philippines) in relation to varied motivational variables (self-efficacy, self-theories, passion, psychological capital), social-environmental factors (cooperative interactions, practicum evaluations), as well as psychological and physical health (coping styles, burnout, sleep quality). Study findings and protocols are discussed with respect to specific directions for future research on academic emotions in an Asian educational context.

Emotions in Education: Asian Insights on the Role of Emotions in Learning and Teaching

Emotions in Education: Asian Insights on the Role of Emotions in Learning and Teaching

Emotions in Learning at Work: a Literature Review

The research elaborating emotions in organizational settings has increased considerably in recent years. However, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the role of emotions in learning at work. This review aimed to elaborate how emotions and learning are understood in the field of workplace studies, and how emotions and learning at work are related. For the review, 31 scientific articles were selected and analysed. We found that emotions and learning were understood in a range of ways in the articles. Emotions were mainly defined as emotional experiences and responses, and learning at work mainly referred to learning through participatory practices. In addition, the review illustrates the relationship between emotions and learning at work. Most of the studies focused on the active role of emotions in supporting and/or hindering learning at work, but some indicated the contrary direction of influence, with emotions at work being influenced by learning. The review further illustrates trends and gaps in this research field, and suggests some theoretical underpinnings, with recommendations for future research.

Students’ Emotional Engagement, Motivation and Behaviour Over the Life of an Online Course: Reflections on Two Market Research Case Studies

Since 2013, Leeds Beckett University has carried out two studies, working with market researchers, into students’ feelings and perceptions of online courses and their learning context. This work has been conducted outside routine data collection for statistical reporting to regulatory agencies, as these exercises do not explore a student’s engagement or behaviour in a rich enough way to assist practitioners in the design of learning products, services and experiences. The unstated philosophy of both studies has been to ground learning behaviour, and hence engagement, in the whole life of the individual student, taking place – in the case of the second study – over an extended time period. These whole-life studies have included research into the students’ emotional lives, as the role of emotions in learning is of interest not only to researchers but also to practitioners, who engage with students in a real-life context rather than an experimental one. This paper describes these two studies, their findings and their value in developing and delivering online courses. The first study (2014) was entirely qualitative, covering a small sample over a narrow time window, but it provided rich, nuanced insights into learning context and motivation. The second study (2016) was a longitudinal study of a much larger sample of students, using a mix of qualitative research and quantitative data collection. Both studies help to contextualise the ‘online student’, whose presence and activities online are subject to institutional measurement, in the ‘whole person’ of the student.

Sustainability and learning: Aesthetic and creative responses in a digital culture

The research presented in this article strives to answer the question: how do we educate for sustainability? I have provided evidence that arts-based educational research methods and major cultural resources provide very rich learning experiences that extend across disciplinary boundaries and can be crafted into pedagogical practices that help orientate learners of all levels to issues of sustainability. The article addresses the challenge of developing pedagogies for socio-ecological sustainability across disciplines in higher education. I present three kinds of conceptual resources in support of this project: theoretical influences that provide a range of lenses through which I can focus on my research concerns and pedagogical developments; methodological innovations – the use of the Dérive combined with a narrative record; and real-world aesthetic resources derived from gallery visits, an architectural exploration and interactive, scientific visits to major botanical gardens in Europe. I also briefly outline the importance of research resources derived from my own interdisciplinary work in virtual worlds - technology enhanced learning (TEL). These resources have led to a fusion of ideas from my own empirical research and personal experiences and observations in the real world. The most significant outcome of my Dérive experiences is a reminder of the power of aesthetic and emotional responses in learning activities. The blending of digital and analogue conceptual resources has synergised my thinking about pedagogies of sustainability, and increased my understanding of the importance of engagement with the real world, the role of emotion in learning and the power of experiential learning. I argue that personal and collective responses to artwork can act synergistically, and that community learning and individual learning are linked in informal settings, as evidenced by the Dérives presented in this article.

Understanding students’ emotional reactions to entrepreneurship education

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on approaches that acknowledge and make explicit the role of emotion in the entrepreneurship education classroom. As entrepreneurship educators, the authors are aware of the affective impacts that entrepreneurship education has on the students and the authors continuously reflect on and support the students through, what is acknowledged in practice, an emotionally charged experience. With this in mind, the authors outline how a variety of disciplines engage with the role of emotions and how an interdisciplinary approach to the topic can support pedagogy.Design/methodology/approachThe authors synthesise relevant arguments from four discrete disciplines: neuroscience; psychology, education and entrepreneurship, which have not previously been combined. The authors argue that the role of emotion in learning generally, has been investigated across these disparate disciplines, but has not been brought together in a way that provides practical implications for the development of pedagogy.FindingsBy synthesising the findings from four bodies of knowledge that engage with emotion, entrepreneurship and education, the authors start to develop a theoretical model based around the concept of the emotional ecology of the classroom.Practical implicationsThe role of emotion in entrepreneurship education is an emerging topic and the authors’ synthesis of research supports further investigation. The authors’ insights will support educators to develop classroom environments that acknowledge relationships between students and between students and educators. Such engagement could help educators and students to appreciate, acknowledge and address the emotional aspects of entrepreneurship education.Originality/valueThe paper starts to develop new theory around emotions in entrepreneurship education, developing the idea of the emotional “ecology” of teaching environments and highlighting how this might support future research agendas.

Contrasting Views of Emotion in Learning: Alfred North Whitehead and Jerome Bruner

The article analyzes contrasting theories about the role of emotion in learning proposed by Alfred North Whitehead and Jerome Bruner. I argue that Whitehead’s account of experience and emotion in his educational philosophy is best understood in the context of the philosophy of organism. Here he takes issue with the empiricists’ view that sensa are the core of perception, and conceives of emotion as the primary bodily experience reaching out to the world as “prehensions” that provide continuity to experience. Bruner gives priority to cognition and the mental models that make problem solving possible. While he does acknowledge emotions as part of the fabric of the mind, they are shaped by what we know, which fully determines both experience and emotion. And when he embraces narrative thinking, it also excludes emotion in favour of “metacognitive sensitivity.” A possible reconciliation is attempted by considering the relationship between consciousness and emotion, but this serves to underline the differences. Whitehead’s realism and Bruner’s constructivism also highlight the philosophical divide between the two thinkers. I conclude that Whitehead’s theory of emotion in learning is richer and more inclusive than Bruner’s.