Lesson 6

USING AND EVALUATING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

INTRODUCTION

-       After being acquainted with different instructional materials through Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience, let us, learn how to select and use these materials in order to achieve out desired learning objectives.

ABSTRACTION

-       One of the instructional materials used to attain instructional objectives is field trip.

-       It is not enough to bring the class out for a field trip and make them observe anything or everything or use other instructional materials for no preparation and clear reason at all. Perhaps this is what happened to the field trip joined in by Linus, that’s why he seems not able to cite something specific that he learned from the field trip.

-       For an effective use of instructional materials such as field trip, there are guidelines that ought to be observed, first of all, in their selection and second, in their use.

The Proper Use of Materials

-       You may have selected your instructional material will. This is no guarantee that the instructional material will be effectively utilized. It is one thing to select a good instructional material, it is another thing to use it well.

-       To ensure effective use of instructional material, Hayden Smith and Thomas Nagel, (1972) book authors on Instructional Media, advise use to abide by the acronym PPPF.

·         Prepare yourself. You know your lesson objective and what you expert from the class after the session and why you have selected such particular instructional material. You have a plan on how you will proceed, what questions to ask, how you will evaluate learning and how you will tie loose ends before the bell rings.

·         Prepare your students. Set reasonably high class expectations and learning goals. It is sound practiced to give them guide questions for them to be able to answer during the discussion. Motivate them and keep them interested and engaged.

·         Present the material under the best possible conditions. Many teachers are guilty to the R.O.G Syndrome. This is means “running out of gas” which usually results from poor planning (Smith, 1972) Using media and materials. Especially if they are mechanical in nature, often requires rehearsal and a carefully planned performance. Wise are you if you try the materials ahead of your class to use to avoid a fiasco.

·         Follow up. Remember that you use instructional material to achieve an objective, not to kill time nor to give yourself a break neither to merely entertain the class. You use the instructional for the attainment of a lesson objective. Your use of the instructional material is not the end itself. It is a means to an end, the attainment of a learning objective. So, there is need to follow up to find if objective was attained or not.