Lesson 1

LESSON 1: TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR CREATING LEARNING MATERIALS

EDTECH
The21^st century is an age when change is unparalleled. It is an Information-based and technology driven area where thinking and learning has become borderless. It is a time when the use of electronic media has dominated many people’s lives. Time and space no longer pose a problem as they can now be bridged by technology.
 Marshall Mcluhan
Educator, Journalist

According to research, people tend to remember;

-10% of what they read
-20% of what they hear
-30% of what they see
-50% of what they hear and see
-70-90% of what they see, hear and experience

EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
   -Is the application of technology in the educative process that takes place in education institutions.

EDUCATIVE PROCESS
    - Teaching, learning process.

TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION
  -Is the application of technology in the operation of education institution.

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOOGY
  -Is refers to aspects of educational technology that are concerned with instructions.

TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION
  -Is using learning technologies to introduce supplement and extend skills.

BENEFITS FROM USING EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
1. Increase the quality of learning and the degree of its mastery through the use of special effects of unique programming that are considered individualized, valid and accessible.
2. Teaching through technology-Decrease the time spent in instruction for learners so achieve desired learning objective.
3. Increase efficiency of teachers
4. Reduce educational cost without affecting quality of Instruction.

GUIDELINES IN USING EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
1. Determine the purpose for which the instructional materials are to be used.

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY
Examples:
-Computer
-Laptop
-Tablet
- Tablet pen
-Speaker
-Cell phones

TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION
Examples:
- Smart board
- I.D system
- Enrolment system
- Grading system
- Student portal
3. Know the content of material.
4. Exercise flexibility so that the materials satisfy different purposes.
5. Consider diversity/variety of materials.
6.  Relate materials to age, ability, maturity and interest of students.
7. Arrange the conditions so that the materials do not interrupt the momentum of the lesson.
8. Prepare the students for what they will see, hear and do as lessons unfold.
9. Operate equipment needed for efficient use.
10.  Summarize experiences gained and follow up with further relevant discussion.
11. Evaluate the results of the use materials together with the instructional process, to determine effectiveness.

Why use media in Instruction?
-Methods of teaching are instructional techniques that facilitate learning while Media are the means of implementing those methods.

COMMONLY USED MRDIA/MATERIALS FOR INSTRUCTION.
1. Print media/materials- considered to be the most dominant and the primary means of communicating subject matter to students.
Examples of print Media/Materials
-Books
-textbooks
-Periodical such as newspaper, magazines, journals, hand-outs, manvals.
2. Still pictures and graphics-useful means of expressing ideas; employ lines, patterns, colors and shades to convey Information.
Examples of Still pictures and graphics
- Pictures
- Graphics such as maps, diagrams, charts/graphs, tables, posters and cartoons
- Visual display devices such as chalkboards, whiteboard, magnetic board bulletin board
- projection devices such as slide and filmstrip
3. Sound recordings and radio
- Phonographs records
- Audiotapes
- Compact disc
- Radio
4. Film and television
5. Video recording
-videotapes and disc
- Cables and satellites
-Camcorders
6 Computer-based learning (CBL)
 -Enables the students to study almost anytime and convenient locations and with varying ability levels; provides multimedia, Interactive instruction, practice and testing that in turn helps teachers further in terms of diagnosis and guidance. (Computer software)
7. The Web

Information                  Traditional Education                      Computer based learning
transfer                                lecture                                          Webpages and links

Study Materials                Textbooks and notes                    Down-load online notes

Concepts                          Problem solving                                 self-learning modules
augmentation                  exercises

Knowledge                       Examinations                                      quizzes and examination
evaluation

General Principles/Criteria for selection of Instructional materials
1. Appropriateness:
    -materials must catch the general and specific objectives of the lesson, must be appropriate to the:
-difficulty of concepts taught
-vocabulary level of students
-methods used in teaching
-interest of learners
2. Authenticity:
 -materials must present accurate, up to-date, and reliable information.
3. Interest and appeal to users;
 -materials must have the power to catch the interest of users, motivate them for learning and stimulate.
4. Organization and balance:
  -materials must be very clear, well organized, logically sequenced.
5. Cost effectiveness/economy:
-materials used must be relative to the cost of other similar materials, their durability, and the number of student users.
6. Breadth the scope of materials must suit many different types of learners and learning purposes.

TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR CREATING LEARNING MATERIALS
1. Do not overcrowd
2. Be consistent in format, layout and convention.
3. Use appropriate typefaces and point uses.
4. Use bold an italics for emphasis but don’t overuse them.
5. Use tittles, headings, and subheadings to clarify and guide.
6. Use number to direct through sequence.

7. Use graphics and illustrations to reinforce ideas.

8. Use symbols and icons as identifying markers.
9. Use color/video/audio/music to stimulate but not to overpower the senses.
10. Produce the materials with technical excellence good quality, good audio, clear etc.