Online learning is raging due to the offered advantages including the ease of information accessibility and flexible learning experiences remotely. However, it still lacks intelligent authentication and validation of users at the other end. Additional questions are raised for the effectiveness of transfer of knowledge, soft skills, and value of education as the student's engagement. Following the hype and crucial need for full-fledged virtual learning environments (VLEs) in recent times, the literature has witnessed a significant increase in the studies targeting the associated problem areas. The existing VLEs in place fail to provide aggregated functionalities of student authentication and activity tracking in dynamic visual environments. To solve the problem by providing interactive functionality, an automated hybrid information activity system (HIAS) based on facial biometrics, facial emotion recognition using computer vision techniques is proposed. The proposed system solves the problem intelligently by analysing the incoming online video from the tutor's computer screen. © 2023 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.