Abstract: Cognitive engagement refers to the degree of learners’ mental effort and application of cognitive strategies during learning, which is key in affecting their learning performance in blended teaching. However, prior research has encountered challenges in assessing learners’ cognitive engagement accurately due to the problems in their evaluations, such as subjective evaluation and covering a single mode only, which restricts the improvement of the learning effect in blended classrooms. This research intends to combine mathematical modeling, laboratory experiments and teaching-tracking quasi-experiments to explore the quantification and intervention of cognitive engagement. This study endeavors to establish a multi-modal quantitative model representing learners’ cognitive engagement in blended classrooms and strategies for improvement. We will also form teaching schemes for blended teaching in higher education and develop an integrated teaching and researching tool for cognitive engagement recognition and intervention. The research could provide theoretical and practical support for improving the quality and efficiency of blended teaching.

Key words: blended classroom, cognitive engagement, multi-modal measurement indices, intervention strategies