Open AccessModeling student engagement using optimal control theory
Author(s) -
D. Lewis
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of geometric mechanics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.511
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1941-4897
pISSN - 1941-4889
DOI - 10.3934/jgm.2021032
Subject(s) - procrastination , task (project management) , psychology , cognitive load , cognition , cognitive psychology , control (management) , self control , student engagement , social psychology , computer science , mathematics education , artificial intelligence , engineering , systems engineering , neuroscience
Student engagement in learning a prescribed body of knowledge can be modeled using optimal control theory, with a scalar state variable representing mastery, or self-perceived mastery, of the material and control representing the instantaneous cognitive effort devoted to the learning task. The relevant costs include emotional and external penalties for incomplete mastery, reduced availability of cognitive resources for other activities, and psychological stresses related to engagement with the learning task. Application of Pontryagin's maximum principle to some simple models of engagement yields solutions of the synthesis problem mimicking familiar behaviors including avoidance, procrastination, and increasing commitment in response to increasing mastery.