A lecturer from Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) has successfully defended her doctoral dissertation proposing a new model for developing English teaching materials tailored to the diverse needs of learners in non\u2011formal education settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rohani, S.Pd., M.A., a lecturer in English at UNNES, presented her dissertation titled \u201cModel Development of Multiple Intelligences\u2011Based EFL Materials (MI\u2011Emadev) for a Non\u2011formal English School\u201d at a doctoral promotion hearing held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at the WS Rendra Building, Faculty of Language, Arts, and Culture, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her research, Rohani identified a persistent challenge in non\u2011formal English schools and course institutions: learners come with widely varying abilities, motivations, ages, and learning styles. However, the teaching materials used in such settings have tended to be uniform and have not fully accommodated this diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Model That Puts Multiple Intelligences at the Core<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Through her study, Rohani developed the MI\u2011Emadev Model (Multiple Intelligences\u2011Based EFL Materials Development Model). Unlike previous approaches that typically apply multiple intelligences theory only to classroom activities, this model places multiple intelligences as the foundation of the material design process itself. The result is a systematic, flexible, and inclusive framework that helps teachers develop learning materials suited to the unique strengths of each learner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith this approach, teaching materials are designed to provide multiple learning pathways, allowing more students to engage according to their own learning strengths,\u201d Rohani explained during her defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The research employed an Educational Design Research (EDR) approach, involving needs analysis, model design, expert validation, trials, evaluation, and iterative revisions at an English course institution in Semarang. The findings show that the MI\u2011Emadev Model possesses strong conceptual validity and is considered practical and feasible for use in non\u2011formal English learning contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Four Supporting Products, Including an AI\u2011Based Application<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond the development model itself, the research produced four additional products: a user guidebook for the MI\u2011Emadev Model, a prototype of multiple intelligences\u2011based English teaching materials, a teacher\u2019s guide for using the materials, and an AI\u2011based MI\u2011Emadev application. All research products have received copyright registration certificates from the Ministry of Law of the Republic of Indonesia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hoping to End \u2018One Size Fits All\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Through this research, Rohani expressed her hope that the development of English teaching materials in the future will no longer rely on a \u201cone size fits all\u201d approach. Instead, she advocates for materials that respect the diversity of learners\u2019 ways of learning and help teachers design more inclusive and adaptive instruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n