This edited volume explores how empathy and emotional intelligence can be systematically embedded into contemporary educational technologies to create more human-centered, inclusive, and effective learning environments. The book brings together theoretical foundations, design principles, and technological frameworks that position emotions as a core element of digital, blended, and immersive learning systems. It examines how learner emotions, attention, engagement, and affective states can be modeled, sensed, and meaningfully integrated into learning technologies through interdisciplinary perspectives spanning education, psychology, human–computer interaction, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science.
The chapters present empirical studies, design methodologies, and system implementations that demonstrate empathy-driven approaches in real educational contexts. Topics include affective computing in education, emotionally intelligent instructional design, sensitive and adaptive learning systems, learner behavior and engagement analytics, extended reality–based learning experiences, and human-centered design frameworks. Several contributions highlight AI-enabled personalization, emotion-aware feedback mechanisms, and ethically grounded approaches to user modeling and intelligent learning environments.
Collectively, the book serves as a practical and forward-looking resource for educators, researchers, designers, and technology developers seeking to move beyond efficiency-driven educational technologies toward systems that genuinely support both cognitive growth and emotional well-being in digitally mediated learning.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. The Heart of Technology: Advancing Socio-Emotional Learning in Digital Classrooms.- Chapter 2. Emotional Intelligence in the Digital Learning Era: A Catalyst for Students’ Success.- Chapter 3. Redefining Online Learning: The Significance of Empathy in Increasing Student Involvement and Retention.- Chapter 4. Cultural Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence in Technology-Enhanced Learning.- Chapter 5. Integration of Emotional and Cultural Intelligence in Virtual Reality Education: A Framework for Designing Empathy-Driven Learning.- Chapter 6. Human-Centered Design for Learning Technologies: Enhancing Empathy, Creativity, and Engagement.- Chapter 7. Emotion-Driven Pedagogical Strategies: Designing Empathetic Learning Experiences in the Digital Era.- Chapter 8. Building Empathy in Digital and Blended Learning Environments in the Classrooms.- Chapter 9. Designing with Feeling: A Culturally Responsive Framework for Emotion-Aware EdTech in Indian Classrooms.- Chapter 10. Affective Computing in Education: An Enhancing Interdisciplinary Learning Through an Emotional Intelligence.- Chapter 11. Emotion-Aware Adaptive Learning Systems: Personalizing Education Through Empathy-Driven AI.- Chapter 12. Designing Emotionally Adaptive Learning Environments Using Generative AI, GANS, and VAES: Implications for the Future of Smart Education.- Chapter 13. An AI-based ‘Sensitive’ Blended Learning System to Improve Pedagogy.- Chapter 14. Empathy-Aware Reinforcement Learning for Emotionally Intelligent E-Learning Agents.- Chapter 15. Role of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) in Emotional Learning Systems.- Chapter 16. Impact of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) in Emotional Learning Systems.- Chapter 17. AI-Based Meta-Universities and the Smart Curriculum: Designing Empathy-Centered Learning Ecosystems.- Chapter 18. AI meets EI: The Role of Empathy beyond the Smart Classrooms.- Chapter 19. Empirically Testing the Emotional Intelligence and Other Contributors for Boosting the Effectiveness in the Educational Framework.- Chapter 20. The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Fostering Empathy and Engagement in Hybrid Classrooms.- Chapter 21. Empathy-Focused Teaching Practices to Highlight Retention and Enrollment of Students in Blended Learning Environments.- Chapter 22. From Code to Compassion: A Mixed-Method Inquiry into AI-Enhanced AR/VR Platforms for Emotionally Adaptive SEL Curriculum.- Chapter 23. Scaling Emotional Intelligence: Peer Based Approaches and Measurement.- Chapter 24. Social and Emotional Learning through Educational Technologies in Social Studies.- Chapter 25. Empathy and Values in Medical Education: Integrating a Neuro-Pedagogical Model with Educational Technologies.- Chapter 26. Comparative Evaluation of an IoT-Enabled Multimodal Emotion-Aware Adaptive Learning Framework.- Chapter 27. Beyond the Human Counsellor: Positive Psychology, AI Chatbots, and the Future of Student Well-being Support.- Chapter 28. Ethical Considerations in Emotion-Centered Learning: Adoption, Efficacy, and Risks of GenAI in Education.- Chapter 29. The Empathy Engine and the Digi-Driven Society : Emotional Intelligence as the Core of EdTech Innovation.- Chapter 30. Future Directions in Empathy-enabled Educational Technologies: Rising Futuristic Digital Transformation.
About the Author :
Dr. Subrata Tikadar, PhD, is a distinguished scholar in the field of human-computer interaction, with a specialized focus on affective computing, learning technology, and interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary sensitive system design. Currently serving as an assistant professor in research and innovation, Dr. Tikadar has made significant contributions to understanding how emotional intelligence can be integrated into educational technology to improve learning outcomes. Dr. Tikadar completed their Ph.D. from IIT Guwahati, where they were honored with the prestigious “Best PhD Thesis Award” for their groundbreaking work. With an impressive portfolio of published research papers and edited books, Dr. Tikadar’s expertise is widely recognized in academic and professional circles. Their research has earned them numerous accolades, including the Best Research Paper Award, highlighting their contributions to advancing emotional intelligence in technology. Dr. Tikadar also received a competitive scholarship to present their work at a top-tier international CORE conference, further underscoring the global impact of their research. As a committed member of IEEE, ACM, and the IEEE Technical Committee of Learning Technology, Dr. Tikadar actively contributes to the development of innovative solutions in the field. Their ongoing work explores the intersection of technology and human emotions, aiming to design more empathetic learning environments that address both the intellectual and emotional needs of learners. Through their research, Dr. Tikadar continues to shape the future of educational technology, making learning more engaging, inclusive, and emotionally aware.
Dr. Kinshuk, PhD, popularly known as “Dean Kinshuk” is a distinguished academic, researcher, and international thought leader in the areas of learning technologies, artificial intelligence in education, and smart learning environments. He is currently a professor at the University of North Texas, USA, where he also serves as the Director of the International Research Centre for Intelligent Educational Systems. With an extensive academic career spanning multiple continents, he has held senior academic and leadership positions in North America, Asia, Europe, and Australia. Dr. Kinshuk has authored and edited numerous high-impact journal articles, conference papers, and books, and has served as editor-in-chief, associate editor, and editorial board member for several leading international journals in educational technology and computer science. His research has been widely cited and has significantly influenced the design of adaptive, personalized, and technology-enhanced learning systems. A fellow of multiple prestigious professional bodies, Dr. Kinshuk has received several international awards for excellence in research, innovation, and academic leadership. He is also actively involved in shaping global research agendas through keynote addresses, policy advisory roles, and leadership in international conferences and professional societies.
Dr. Pushan Kumar Dutta, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at Amity University Kolkata, India, and a recognized Mentor of Change under NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission. He earned his Ph.D. in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from Jadavpur University, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship under the prestigious Erasmus Mundus programme at the University of Oradea, Romania. His research spans data mining, artificial intelligence, edge and federated computing, predictive analytics, and intelligent systems, with prolific contributions in high-impact journals, books, and international conferences. Dr. Dutta has edited and authored numerous scholarly books and chapters for leading publishers and serves on editorial and technical programming committees for global conferences. He has delivered keynote addresses internationally and is actively involved in curriculum development, mentorship, and innovation initiatives that bridge academic research with real-world technological and societal challenges. His work reflects a strong commitment to advancing emerging technologies, sustainable development, and excellence in teaching and research.
Dr. Samit Bhattacharya, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, India. He is a leading researcher in the areas of human–computer interaction (HCI), user-centric computing, extended reality (virtual, augmented, and mixed reality), natural user interfaces, and intelligent interactive systems. He is the founder and principal investigator of the User-Centric Computing and Networking (UCCN) Laboratory at IIT Guwahati and has also played a key leadership role in establishing the Samsung Digital Academy Innovation Laboratory in collaboration with Samsung Research Institute. With over fifteen years of academic and research experience, Dr. Bhattacharya has supervised numerous PhD, postgraduate, and undergraduate research projects and has published extensively in high-impact international journals, conferences, edited volumes, and patents. His work has contributed significantly to the modeling and analysis of user behavior, affective interaction, and technology-enhanced learning environments. He is the author of well-known textbooks in human–computer interaction and computer graphics and has served in editorial and organizational roles for several reputed international conferences and journals. Dr. Bhattacharya has led and co-led multiple large-scale sponsored research and consultancy projects funded by national and international agencies and has been actively involved in curriculum design, MOOCs, faculty development programs, and professional training initiatives. His contributions to research, teaching, and innovation have been recognized through several prestigious awards, fellowships, and invited academic positions in India and abroad.
