Learning Styles of Talent Students in Mathematics

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to analyze the learning styles of talent students in mathematics and to find causes adopting the learning styles. Kolb‟s learning theory, Myers- Briggs Type Indicator and Dunn and Dunn learning style were reviewed for theoretical literature. Six talent students were purposively chosen from three schools of Kirtipur Municipality to conduct case study. Talent students‟ peer, their guardian and mathematics teacher were selected for data collection where tools were in-depth interview, interview and observation. The collected data was analyzed by thematic approach and triangulation. Studying in formal environment and individually, more focus on concept rather than learning in detail, focus on logic, asking „how‟ sort of questions to know the problem solving process, revising mathematical concepts while walking on the way and working at house, studying with the help of making image in mind and drawing figures of mathematical concepts in copy, making note and highlighting main concepts, relating mathematical concepts with society and using internet to study mathematics were major findings of this study. The reasons behind such learning styles were feeling comfortable to learn in formal environment, to avoid the disturbance created by family members, to feel psychologically comfortable to study individually, to become difference in problem faced by talent students and their friends, lack of materials, exam centered learning and lack of time to study practically, to know step wise solution of problems, to keep in long term memory, to avoid pressure of rote learning, to know mathematical knowledge from social context and to widen the mathematical knowledge. The conclusion of this study is talent students are not limited only on book, they learn through social context, internet and by self-effort. They learn meaningfully with the help of figures and notes.