Online Learning Management for Primary and Secondary Students during the COVID-19 Epidemic: An Evolutionary Game Theory Approach

• Published in: Sustainability Vol. 14; no. 19; p. 12416
• Main Authors: Li, Dayin, Wang, Yubiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.09.2022
• Subjects: Analysis; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Distance learning; Educational aspects; Equilibrium (Economics); Game theory; Management; Online education; Online instruction; Secondary schools; Sustainability; Teaching; China
• ISSN: 2071-1050; 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su141912416

The purpose of this study is to explore the management of primary and secondary school students’ online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze the impact of stakeholders’ behavioral choices on students’ online learning management. Based on evolutionary game theory, this paper constructs two-game models of "schools-students" and “schools-students-parents”, analyzes the influence of the behavioral interaction of game subjects on the game equilibrium in the two scenarios, and uses MATLAB 2018 software to carry out the numerical simulation. The results show significant differences in different game players’ strategy choices on students’ online learning management. Among them, the benefits brought by learning are the main factors affecting students’ strategic choices. Although the participation of parents has a positive effect on promoting students’ game strategy selection towards cooperation, there is a participation boundary to the involvement of parents. The school’s choice of punishment or reward has no significant effect on students’ online learning management. Compared with schools, punishments and rewards from parents have a substantial impact on promoting students’ strategic choices towards cooperation.