LEARNING STYLES OF SUPERIOR STUDENTS IN MATHEMATICS

Abstract

This study focuses on the learning styles of superior students in mathematics. The main objective of this study was to explore the learning styles of superior students and to investigate the factors which contribute to be a super student in mathematics. To fulfill the intended objectives of the study, the researcher had developed the conceptual understanding of the study which was the theoretical framework for this study. Autonomous and self directed learning, relevancy oriented learning, goal oriented learning, bring life experience and knowledge learning, intra personal learning and inter personal learning styles were covered in the theoretical framework of this study. This was case study research having qualitative and descriptive nature. Among all schools from Kathmandu district, only one school was chosen purposively. Finally, from the superior students (2 boys and 2 girls) were selected for the case study on the basis of mathematics score obtained by the students in the test taken by school. Tools for the data collection were interview schedule and observational note. Face to face interview with students, parents, Mathematics teacher & Head teacher were carried out and classroom observation was done. The collected information was analyzed descriptively according to the adult learning theory and VAK learning theory. This study showed different learning styles of superior students. The findings were: superior students are autonomous and self directed, some superior students may be motivated by their set goal and life experience, superior students do not limit them in their course books, most superior students get involved in extracurricular activities and do better and most superior students are comfortable with the group learning and interacting with teacher, parents and friends.