This study expands the scope of cognitive evaluation theory (CET) with flow theory by providing a potential explanation for the missing link between motivation and motivational outcomes of students in visual programming learning. It aims to investigate how parental roles impact young students' flow experience in learning from the parents' point of view. Parents were asked to complete an online observation survey for evaluating their children's (aged 6–12) learning during a 2-day coding fair. In total, 1,196 parents completed the survey. We conducted multigroup structural equation modelling (MGSEM) for hypothesis testing. Specifically, mediation analysis was conducted for the relationships between parents' perception and support and students' flow experience through the mediating role of students' learning motivation. We also explored if the hypothesised relationships were different among high versus low creative students. Results revealed that parents' perceived usefulness and parental support can effectively foster students' learning motivation, which leads to students' flow experience in visual programming learning. The impact of parents' perceived usefulness on students' learning motivation was particularly more salient in the low creative student group (vs. high creative student group). The findings suggested that schools should encourage stronger parent–children relationships, such that parents can be more actively involved in students’ learning.

中文翻译：

---

视觉编程中家长支持和感知有用性对学生学习动机和心流体验的影响：家长视角的调查

本研究通过为学生在视觉编程学习中的动机和动机结果之间缺失的联系提供一个潜在的解释，扩展了认知评估理论 (CET) 和流程理论的范围。它旨在从父母的角度调查父母角色如何影响年轻学生的学习心流体验。家长被要求完成一项在线观察调查，以评估他们孩子（6-12 岁）在为期 2 天的编码展​​期间的学习情况。总共有 1,196 名家长完成了调查。我们进行了多组结构方程模型 (MGSEM) 进行假设检验。具体而言，通过学生学习动机的中介作用，对家长的感知和支持与学生的心流体验之间的关系进行中介分析。我们还探讨了高创造性学生和低创造性学生之间的假设关系是否不同。结果表明，家长的感知有用性和家长的支持可以有效地培养学生的学习动机，从而导致学生在视觉编程学习中的流动体验。家长感知有用性对学生学习动机的影响在低创造力学生群体（相对于高创造力学生群体）尤为突出。研究结果表明，学校应鼓励建立更牢固的亲子关系，以便家长可以更积极地参与学生的学习。感知有用性和家长的支持可以有效地培养学生的学习动机，从而导致学生在可视化编程学习中的流动体验。家长感知有用性对学生学习动机的影响在低创造力学生群体（相对于高创造力学生群体）尤为突出。研究结果表明，学校应鼓励建立更牢固的亲子关系，以便家长可以更积极地参与学生的学习。感知有用性和家长的支持可以有效地培养学生的学习动机，从而导致学生在可视化编程学习中的流动体验。家长感知有用性对学生学习动机的影响在低创造力学生群体（相对于高创造力学生群体）尤为突出。研究结果表明，学校应鼓励建立更牢固的亲子关系，以便家长可以更积极地参与学生的学习。