Work place: Karunya Institute of Tech. and Sci., Coimbatore, India
E-mail: jenefaa@karunya.edu
Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6697-1788
Research Interests:
Biography
Jenefa A. serves as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Data Science and Cyber Security at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences. She completed her Ph.D. at Anna University, Chennai in 2022, and her research spans across artificial intelligence and computer networks. Dr. Jenefa has contributed extensively to the academic community through her publications in international journals and conferences, focusing on areas such as network traffic classification, advanced diagnostics using machine learning, and enhancing public safety with AI technologies. She is recognized for her pedagogical contributions, having taught a wide array of computer science courses, and has earned multiple accolades for her excellence in teaching and research.
By Vidhya K. T. M. Thiyagu Antony Taurshia Jenefa A.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5815/ijmecs.2026.01.05, Pub. Date: 8 Feb. 2026
Increased focus on personalized learning has highlighted the need for real-time monitoring of student engagement. Understanding attention levels during instruction helps improve teaching effectiveness and learning outcomes. However, existing methods rely on manual observation or periodic assessments, which are subjective and lack consistency. These approaches fail to capture moment-to-moment variations in engagement. Conventional systems using basic video tracking or facial detection lack robustness in variable lighting, head pose changes, and classroom dynamics. They are also limited in providing timely, actionable insights. This study presents FocusTrack, a real-time engagement monitoring system that utilizes facial cues and behavioral indicators for accurate classification. The system processes video frames locally and provides continuous engagement feedback. Two annotated datasets—EngageFace (150 hours, classroom-based) and StudyFocus (90 hours, home-based)—were developed to capture diverse learning scenarios. Each dataset includes labels for gaze direction, drowsiness, and facial cues. Experimental results show accuracy levels of 97.0% and 95.5% across the two datasets, outperforming conventional models. The system also maintains latency under 60 ms on CPU- based setups. FocusTrack offers a scalable, privacy-aware solution for continuous engagement monitoring in real-world educational environments. It provides instructors with objective feedback to adapt teaching strategies dynamically.
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