User Engagement with Interactive Educational Videos: Relations with Task Value, Cognitive Load, and Learning Satisfaction

Interactive educational videos have grown in popularity in the higher education setting over the last two decades. This exploratory study investigates the mediating and moderating effects of user engagement (UE) on the relationships between the antecedents of UE (i.e., intrinsic load, extraneous load, germane load, and task value) and learning satisfaction. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted in June 2023. We conveniently sampled 49 year-one undergraduate students, who completed a self-report questionnaire consisting of items pertaining to cognitive load, task value, user engagement, and learning satisfaction. Data was analysed using hierarchical linear regression models. Findings revealed that reward fully mediated the relationship between germane load and learning satisfaction. In addition, reward was also found to moderate the relation between (a) germane load and learning satisfaction, and (b) task value and learning satisfaction. These findings highlight the importance of creating rewarding experiences when designing interactive educational videos.