Journal of General Education and Humanities
Vol. 5 No. 3 (2026): June

Academic Boredom in Technology-Based Mathematics Learning: A Phenomenological Study from a Didactical Mathematics Perspective

Syahrina Anisa Pulungan (Sekolah Tinggi Keguruan dan Ilmu Penidikan Amal Bakti)
Agus Maman Abadi (Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta)
Endah Retnowati (Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta)



Article Info

Publish Date
09 Jun 2026

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that academic boredom negatively affects students’ engagement, motivation, and achievement; however, little is known about how students experience boredom in technology-based mathematics learning from a didactical perspective. This study aimed to explore students’ lived experiences of academic boredom, identify contributing factors, and interpret these experiences through a mathematics didactical lens. A qualitative design employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used. Thirty-five students aged 13–15 years with experience in technology-supported mathematics learning were purposively selected to capture diverse experiences while maintaining in-depth individual and cross-case analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, reflective notes, and supporting documents. The findings revealed five interconnected themes: emotional exhaustion, passive engagement, monotonous learning experiences, didactical factors that fuel boredom, and students’ expectations for meaningful learning. Academic boredom emerged not only from individual emotional responses but also from repetitive instructional practices, limited interaction, weak didactical engagement, and ineffective use of educational technology. The study extends current understanding of academic boredom by demonstrating that boredom in technology-based mathematics learning is both an emotional and a didactical phenomenon shaped by instructional design and classroom interactions. These findings provide implications for developing more interactive, emotionally responsive, and meaningful mathematics learning environments.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

gehu

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Mathematics Other

Description

The Journal of General Education and Humanities (GEHU) is a peer-reviewed scholarly online journal. The GEHU is published quarterly in February, May, August, and November. The GEHU is a non-profit journal whose publication is free of charge. The articles should be original, unpublished, and not ...