ICT-based learning in home environments : flexibility for individuals? A study of presentational formats for verbalizers and visualizers in educational multimedia
The overall aim of the study is to get a better understanding for the relation between different forms of representation in ICT-interfaces and cognitive variation in individuals. Cognitive style is, according to Riding & Al-Hajji (2000) ”an individual’s preferred and habitual approach to both organizing and representing information”. Research of the relation between cognitive style and learning performance has shown, according to Riding & Al-Hajji (2000), that pupils learn best when the structure, the content and the mode of presentation of the material suits their style.On the basis of an explorative pre-analysis of a multimedia program for learning mathematics, named Matador, a general hypothesis was formulated. The general hypothesis that was examined is: The Matador multimedia program can be improved as concerns the presentational formats both for pupils who are helped by and attracted by visual information and – in particular – for pupils who are helped by and attracted by verbal information. A minor user’s test with 10-15 year old pupils was carried out in order to complement the pre-analysis by testing some specific details of the program with users. The results of the study indicate that there are certain aspects that could be improved, especially for those who are helped by and attracted by verbal information.
School:Högskolan i Skövde
Source Type:Master's Thesis
Keywords:cognitive variation style presentational formats verbal visual dimension
Date of Publication:01/11/2008