There has been an increasing focus on web-based instruction (WBI) systems which accommodate individual differences in educational environments. Many of those studies have focused on the investigation of learners’ behaviour to understand their preferences, performance and perception using hypermedia systems. In this thesis, existing studies focus extensively on performance measurement attributes such as time spent using the system by a user, gained score and number of pages visited in the system. However, there is a dearth of studies which explore the relationship between such attributes in measuring performance level. Statistical analysis and data mining techniques were used in this study. We built a WBI program based on existing designs which accommodated learner’s preferences. We evaluated the proposed system by comparing its results with related studies. Then, we investigated the impact of related individual differences on learners’ preferences, performance and perception after interacting with our WBI program. We found that some individual differences and their combination had an impact on learners' preferences when choosing navigation tools. Consequently, it was clear that the related individual differences altered a learner’s preferences. Thus, we did further investigation to understand how multiple individual differences (Multi-ID) could affect learners’ preferences, performance and perception. We found that the Multi-ID clearly altered the learner’s preferences and performance. Thus, designers of WBI applications need to consider the combination of individual differences rather than these differences individually. Our findings also showed that attributes relationships had an impact on measuring learners’ performance level on learners with Multi-ID. The key contribution of this study lies in the following three aspects: firstly, investigating the impact of our proposed system, using three system features in the design, on a learner’s behavior, secondly, exploring the influence of Multi-ID on a learner’s preferences, performance and perception, thirdly, combining the three measurement attributes to understand the performance level using these measuring attributes.

A Study of the Effect of Cognitive Styles Learning Approaches on Identifying English Clause Tasks Lieu, Pin-huei Abstract The main purpose of this study intended to discuss the effect of Field Independent subjects(FIs), Field Dependent subjects (FDs) of junior high school using Discovery, Rule Learning approaches on identifying English clauses task. The questions explored here were: 1.How did FIs and FDs differently perform on identifying English clauses tasks. 2.How did Discovery and Rule learning approaches differently perform on identifying English clauses tasks. 3.How did FIs / FDs and Discovery/Rule learning approaches create interactive effect on identifying English clauses tasks. The study used experimental research method. The subjects were 90 third grade students of junior high school. According to the scores of Embedded Figures Test students were divided into FI and FD. Then depending on the scores of the prior test on identifying English clauses task, FIs and FDs match with two group to accept Discovery and Rule learning approaches , and each one was composed of 10 students. The instruments was ¡§ Embedded Figures Test¡¨ , ¡§self-made that clauses test ,¡¨and the information acquired was dealt with statistical testing through 2*2 ANOVA .The results indicated as followings. 1.An interactive effect of cognitive style and learning approaches were found through ANOVA. FIs using Discovery learning performed better than using Rule learning ,and FDs using Rule learning performed better using Discovery learning .In sum ,FIs appropriately use Discovery learning approach and FDs appropriately use Rule learning approach on identifying English clauses task. 2.Cognitive style lives up significantly different level .FIs performed better than those of FDs. 3.No overall difference were found between Discovery and Rule learning approach. Finally the study discussed the above results in more detail ,and provided suggestions and references of research concerning teaching of English clauses .

Le style cognitif est un domaine bien étudié et approfondi dans les pays occidentaux, surtout aux États-Unis, mais il reste peu développé par les chercheurs chinois. Cette notion est à propos de la personnalité, de la façon de traiter des informations reçus chez les différents individus, et elle peut aussi porter une influence sur l’éducation, qui contient l’éducation de mathématiques. En Chine, les mathématiques sont une matière principale et importante dans le système éducatif, et sous un contexte particulier de la société chinoise, un système éducatif chinois s’est formé. La phase secondaire est la phase la plus représentative dans le système éducatif chinois, et sous le contexte particulier, il faut considérer les styles cognitifs les plus fréquents chez les élèves et aussi le style cognitif de chaque élève pour trouver des méthodes d’améliorer l’éducation mathématique aux écoles secondaires. Pour ce but, il faut bien prendre en considération le côté d’apprentissage et le côté de didactique. Ainsi, notre travail va commencer par une étude des recherches et des théories matures de style cognitif qui serviront de base théorique, et ensuite avec la présentation du contexte de l’éducation mathématique en Chine nous allons pouvoir mieux le lier avec le style cognitif. Avec les résultats de notre recherche nous analysons et proposons des manières possibles au niveau de politique, de didactique et d’apprentissage pour améliorer l’éducation mathématique aux écoles secondaires en profitant des théories de style cognitif et des résultats de notre recherche. / The cognitive style is a well-developed and studied domain in western countries, especially in USA, but it is still a new ground for Chinese researchers. This conception is about the personality, the way to treat the received information for individuals, and it can also influence the education, which includes of course the mathematic education. In China, the mathematic is a principle subject at school in the Chinese educational system. With a special background in the society of China, a special educational system has been formed. The secondary education is the most typical in this educational system, and we need to think about the most frequent cognitive styles among Chinese students and also the cognitive style of each student to find the best methods to make the mathematic education better and more appropriate. For this destination, we need to consider the side of learning and the side of teaching. Therefore, our work will start by a presentation of the researches of cognitive styles and those mature theories, which can be our theoretical base, and then we will connect the education of mathematic with cognitive styles by a presentation of the situation of mathematics education in China. With the results of our research, we will analysis and make some advises about the politics of education, of the teaching and learning methods to try to ameliorate the mathematic education in China with help of cognitive styles and this research.