The Development of Self-Expressive Learning Material for Algebra Learning: An Inductive Learning Strategy

Abstract Researchers have proven that students learn best when there is a personalization in learning. Personalization may be attained by considering the individual's learning styles. In this study, the Math Learning Style Inventory was administered to assess students’ mathematical learning styles. This inventory suggests that when learning mathematics, there are four learning styles including Mastery, Understanding, Self-Expressive and Interpersonal. This paper discusses the Self-Expressive learning material that was developed for students with the Self-Expressive learning style. Students with this preferred learning style tend to like mathematics problems that allow them to think differently by using visualization techniques to solve the problems, generating possible solutions, and exploring alternatives to the given problem. An inductive learning strategy was chosen in the development of the multimedia application in learning algebra. Thirty polytechnic students who were enrolled in an engineering program were given a set of pre- and post-test to measure the effectiveness of the learning material in improving students’ understanding of the topic. Results showed that students who studied the learning material according to their preferred learning style obtained better results than the students with the randomized learning material.