Modeling the physiological response of flow in groups: a mathematical approach

Abstract This paper advances in the understanding of motivation in terms of flow in groups from a physiological perspective. We use wearable devices to monitor the heart rate variation during a set of sessions of face-to-face STEAM project-based learning. By using Action Research with mixed-methods...

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Main Authors: David Antonio Rosas, Natalia Padilla-Zea, Daniel Burgos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-03-01
Series:Smart Learning Environments
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-025-00375-4
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author David Antonio Rosas
Natalia Padilla-Zea
Daniel Burgos
author_facet David Antonio Rosas
Natalia Padilla-Zea
Daniel Burgos
author_sort David Antonio Rosas
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This paper advances in the understanding of motivation in terms of flow in groups from a physiological perspective. We use wearable devices to monitor the heart rate variation during a set of sessions of face-to-face STEAM project-based learning. By using Action Research with mixed-methods design, we observed a set of 28 students in real-world settings during 18 classes and used both customized and commercial tools to analyze data retrieved. Based on the cognitive absorption and motivation obtained from EduFlow-scale-based physiological data, we propose mathematical models to predict the Flow that a group will experience in a teaching–learning session. Our preliminary results may challenge the central axiom of Flow Theory, while clarifies the balance hypothesis.
format Article
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institution DOAJ
issn 2196-7091
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher SpringerOpen
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series Smart Learning Environments
spelling doaj-art-3dabe7ccd9204c5b941dd3660fbb39072025-08-20T02:59:56ZengSpringerOpenSmart Learning Environments2196-70912025-03-0112111810.1186/s40561-025-00375-4Modeling the physiological response of flow in groups: a mathematical approachDavid Antonio Rosas0Natalia Padilla-Zea1Daniel Burgos2University of Design, Innovation and Technology (UDIT)Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)Abstract This paper advances in the understanding of motivation in terms of flow in groups from a physiological perspective. We use wearable devices to monitor the heart rate variation during a set of sessions of face-to-face STEAM project-based learning. By using Action Research with mixed-methods design, we observed a set of 28 students in real-world settings during 18 classes and used both customized and commercial tools to analyze data retrieved. Based on the cognitive absorption and motivation obtained from EduFlow-scale-based physiological data, we propose mathematical models to predict the Flow that a group will experience in a teaching–learning session. Our preliminary results may challenge the central axiom of Flow Theory, while clarifies the balance hypothesis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-025-00375-4Flow theoryEducationMathematical modelHeart rate variability
spellingShingle David Antonio Rosas
Natalia Padilla-Zea
Daniel Burgos
Modeling the physiological response of flow in groups: a mathematical approach
Smart Learning Environments
Flow theory
Education
Mathematical model
Heart rate variability
title Modeling the physiological response of flow in groups: a mathematical approach
title_full Modeling the physiological response of flow in groups: a mathematical approach
title_fullStr Modeling the physiological response of flow in groups: a mathematical approach
title_full_unstemmed Modeling the physiological response of flow in groups: a mathematical approach
title_short Modeling the physiological response of flow in groups: a mathematical approach
title_sort modeling the physiological response of flow in groups a mathematical approach
topic Flow theory
Education
Mathematical model
Heart rate variability
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-025-00375-4
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AT nataliapadillazea modelingthephysiologicalresponseofflowingroupsamathematicalapproach
AT danielburgos modelingthephysiologicalresponseofflowingroupsamathematicalapproach