Conceptual Framework
People take in and process information in different ways. A learning style is the method a person uses to learn. By knowing a student's learning style, a teacher can use teaching methods that maximize student learning. Students can use recognition of their individual learning styles to find what study methods, environment, and activities help them learn best. (Cathryn Whitehead, eHow Contributor)
According to Cynthia Hockman-Chupp (2011) on her article "Let Me Learn My Own Way", students have their different approach in Mathematics depending on their Jungian learning style. Specifically mentioned are student preferences for gaining energy (extraversion or introversion) and preferences for processing information (sensing or intuition). Consider your own learning style and that of various students as you look at "Four Ways of Learning" as quoted; "Let me master it!" (Preferences: introversion and sensing). They like direct instruction and practice work, and they dislike experimenting unless they can receive immediate feedback. "Let me do something!" (Preferences: extraversion and sensing). These students learn through movement, interaction, and hands-on manipulative. They often use a purposeful trial-and-error method working with pictures or manipulative to solve problems until they "see" that their answer matches the mathematics of a problem. "Let me think!" (Preferences: introversion and intuition). These students process ideas internally and they are into concepts, not procedures. "Let me brainstorm!" (Preferences: extraversion and intuition). These students process their ideas best out loud with partners or in groups.
Algebra success depends on certain factors. One of these factors is clear understanding of the different learning styles of the students. Everyone learns differently and it is important to acknowledge these differences because