Observing Joint Visual Attention with Sensors: A Review of Research and Recommendations for Studying and Supporting Collaborative Learning

What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of quantifying learners’ collaborative behaviors with high-frequency data? To provide preliminary answers to this question, I conduct a literature review on joint visual attention (JVA) in collaborative learning settings, analyzed through the lens of sensing technologies. JVA is a fundamental mechanism for establishing a common ground between individuals; without it, it would be extremely challenging for humans to synchronize their actions, understand each other’s perspectives, strive toward shared objectives, collaboratively resolve challenges, and learn together. I collected 69 papers that have studied joint attention with sensing technology (e.g., eye-trackers) and synthesized the state of the field. The main contribution of this paper is to review six measures of joint attention extracted from high-frequency gaze data, their connection to seven educational constructs, six benefits of using sensors, and seven research gaps to inform future work. I conclude with implications for using high-frequency data in educational settings.