The Effect of Adaptive Learning Environment in Teaching the Number Concept to Students with Intellectual Disabilities

The objective of the study is to research evidence of the effectiveness of adaptive computer software that enables students with intellectual disabilities to acquire mathematical skills. The hybrid method, in which quantitative and qualitative research patterns are used together, is our research model. For the quantitative pattern of the research, an authentic experimental model including a pre-test and a post-test, was used with the experimental and control group, but for the qualitative pattern, a descriptive model was used with the aim to describe participants' views of the process. The research was conducted on a group of thirty participants students in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth grades. The materials used in the research had been developed by the researchers. Additionally, overall assessment forms, achievement tests and detailed assessment forms were used in the research. For the analysis of the data, two-way ANOVA for mixed measures and descriptive analysis were used. The analyses indicated that, while there was a significant difference between pretest and post-test, a significant difference could not be found between the traditional learning environment and adaptive learning environment in terms of effectiveness of the education. Moreover, the participants' views of the application were examined.