There has been an increased growth in the use of hypermedia to deliver learning and teaching material. However, much remains to be learned about how different learners perceive such systems. Therefore, it is essential to build robust learning models to illustrate how hypermedia features are experienced by different learners. Research into individual differences suggests cognitive styles have a significant effect on student learning in hypermedia systems. In particular, Witkin's Field Dependence has been extensively examined in previous studies. This article reviews the published findings from empirical studies of hypermedia learning. Specifically, the review classifies the research into five themes: nonlinear learning, learner control, navigation in hyperspace, matching and mismatching, and learning effectiveness. A learning model, developed from an analysis of findings of the previous studies, is presented. Finally, implications for the design of hypermedia learning systems are discussed.
IntroductionAs one of the most recent developments in learning technology, hypermedia stands to offer a significant contribution to the improvement of delivering instructional material. Hypermedia is unique in that there is not one linear path through the program but a multitude of branches in which a learner can explore a subject matter at his/her own pace. This change frees up the way in which information can be delivered to learners, giving them greater control over what they read and the order in which they read it. However, not all types of students have the capability to develop navigation paths by themselves. In the past decade, many studies have found that individual differences had significant effects on student learning in hypermedia systems, ranging from gender differences , through system experience (Hölscherl & Strubel, 2000;Reed & Oughton, 1997), to cognitive styles (Durfresne & Turcotte, 1997;Shih & Gamon, 1999). Among these differences, cognitive styles especially play an important role in the development of hypermedia-based learning because they refer to users' information processing habits, representing individual user's typical modes of perceiving, thinking, remembering, and problem solving (Messick, 1976). Such importance has been highlighted by previous research, which indicated that students with different cognitive styles showed different learning preferences and required different navigational support in hypermedia systems (e.g., Ford & Chen, 2000;Kim, 1997).It is, therefore, essential to build a robust learning model by understanding the needs of students with different cognitive styles. This article aims to present a learning model that illustrates how cognitive styles influence student learning in hypermedia systems by using the evidence of previous research as a base. The evidence will be reviewed and analyzed under five themes that are commonly presented in the literature: nonlinear learning, learner control, navigation in hyperspace, matching and mismatching, and learning effectiveness. In additi...