How do teachers engaging messages affect students? A sentiment analysis

Abstract

Gathering information from students’ answers to open-ended questions helps to assess the quality of teachers’ practices and its relations with students’ motivation. The present study aimed to use sentiment analysis, an artificial intelligence-based tool, to examine students’ responses to open-ended questions about their teacher’s communication. Using the obtained sentiment scores, we studied the effect of teachers engaging messages on students’ sentiment. Subsequently, we analysed the mediating role of this sentiment on the relation between teachers’ messages and students’ motivation to learn. Results showed that the higher the students’ perceived use of engaging messages, the more positive their sentiments towards their teacher’s communication. This is an important issue for future research as it shows the usefulness of sentiment analysis for studying teachers’ verbal behaviours. Findings also showed that sentiment partially mediates the effect of teachers engaging messages on students’ motivation to learn. This research paves the way for using sentiment analysis to better study the relations of teachers’ behaviours, students’ sentiments and opinions, and their outcomes.

Understanding the Role of Teacher-Student Relationships in Students’ Online Learning Engagement: Mediating Role of Academic Motivation

“…Various factors shape students' active engagement in online learning, including an infrastructure for information and communication technology (ICT), the student's technological skills and interests, and the establishment of strong student-instructor connections (Akram et al, 2022). Instructors play a particularly pivotal role in establishing meaningful connections by emphasizing effective communication and representing a supportive online presence (Falcon & Leon, 2023). The nature of relationships between teachers and students directly impacts online learners' motivation, creating a framework of personalized feedback and encouragement that transcends barriers in virtual learning to create a motivational climate that spurs students' active engagement with course materials and activities that ultimately fosters learning (Burgueño et al, 2023).…”