Higher Education Learner Experience with Fuzzy Feedback in a Digital Learning Environment

Studies for placing electroencephalograph (EEG) electrodes on a human head are typically under-resourced, resulting in lengthy periods between training sessions where students are not exposed to practical EEG learning content. We propose a digital learning application that provides a 3D model of a human head on which learners can practice placing EEG electrodes. Our system provides both fuzzy and exact feedback regarding their placement accuracy. We set out to test which of these two feedback systems learners preferred by asking a group of 19 learners to use the system for a three-week period while maintaining a diary of their experiences with both the exact and fuzzy feedback systems respectively. We also conducted a user experience questionnaire and group discussion after the three-week user evaluation period. Comparing the two feedback systems, we found that learners favored the fuzzy feedback system, but not when their placement accuracy approached the selected electrode's precisely calculated location. From a user experience point of view, the overall application was well-received with several suggested improvements from the learners. We conclude that, with further development, this EEG placement learning application could address the idle period between the demonstration lesson and practical training.