Multimedia mathematics tutor : matching instruction to student's learning styles

Mathematics is an important subject for science and technological careers but many children still have difficulties and failures in mathematics learning. Therefore, educational design for effective learning and teaching environment is important in the prevention and remediation of mathematical learning difficulties. Since individuals differ in cognitive ability (intelligence), prior knowledge and the way they perceive and process information or learning styles, adapting instruction to these differences will facilitate learning and thus help increase learning gains especially for low and moderate achieving students. Information Technology, in the form of courseware can be used effectively to individualize instruction. We are developing a learning style inventory to identify student's learning styles and propose a multimedia tutor that can adapt instruction to learner's styles and ability level for secondary school mathematics.