Using Multimedia for Effective Teaching: Matching Instructions to Student´s Learning Styles

This paper discusses the evaluation of an adaptive multimedia courseware for teaching secondary school Mathematics. The courseware consists of a diagnostic module and the instructional modules. The diagnostic modules provide data for automatic adaptation of instructions based on user´s learning styles and knowledge level in the given topic. The instructional modules were designed based on four dominant learning styles; global-visual, global-verbal, analytical-visual and analytical-verbal. The courseware was evaluated in a case study involving thirty five year one secondary school students. Results from the study indicated that matching students learning styles to instructions using multimedia courseware is effective in enhancing student´s learning gains