Developing and Using Resources for the Primary ESL Classroom, we are required to complete four tasks. The first task task is where we find four articles or journals journals on principles principles of materials selection and adaptation and create a graphic organizer for it. The second task is where we develop some teaching aids for a lesson plan. In this part we are required to use three different types of teaching aids. The third task is creating a checklist that can be used as a guide when we are developing teaching resources for a lesson. The last task is a reflection on the whole assignment. Before I did this assignment I didn’t really care about the kind o f material I used. It just has to t o be something that I think is interesting and can be made in the required time. I didn’t really care about the type of material I used and whether I want it to last or just simply throw it away after I’m done with it. My materials ma terials mostly must help me to achieve my objectives and it matches the skill that I want to teach. This is as far as I get in my personal criteria of material selection. The first task; creating mind map based on the journals that I have read really opens my eyes that there are a lot of different materials that I could use in my lesson. The materials also have their own implication to the lesson. It will affect the teaching styles and the learning styles of the pupils. Before this, I thought that the purpose of having material for a lesson is to add a fun and more hands on experience to the learning. I never thought that I could have a really big impact to the lesson that it could change the style of teaching and learning. I also never contemplate the possibility that the pupils will have problem in using a material that I have design for a lesson due to the fact f act that it didn’t suit their proficiency level. The first task also exposed me to the possibility that every materials used can have it own pros and cons. Task two is where we create three types of material for a lesson we are required to use three types of material for our lesson; traditional material, technological aids and realia. The first material of our lesson is the traditional material which is the use of pictures. The second is the use of technological aids which is the PowerPoint presentation and the accompanying music. And the third one is the realia which is the mask. In this task I learned that the materials that I choose not only must be interesting but also helps me bring out the best of my lesson. It is safe to say that the materials that you decided to pick for a lesson must serve as the best piece of illustrations you could possibly think possible for your lesson. This is where colours and movements are added into your lesson. It is a factor that can help extend your lesson beyond letters and words only. This is where the criteria for material
development really play its part. To choose wisely is to know what you are choosing in the first place. The third task is creating a checklist that could be used as a guideline when developing a material. This task required me not just to read more about each factors of material development and selection but also understand what it takes for me to create a criteria that will specifically caters to the factors, which will help me fulfil all the requirement of a particular factor. In my checklist I divided it into three parts. The first part is the general factors to consider, the second checklist is for either hand-outs/ text based material or digital resources. The third and last checklist is to help remind that all the material need to be checked and tested to ensure that it will function properly during the lesson. I devise the checklist to help to remind me of what I need to do when creating a material or finding a proper resources. To use this checklist it is not necessary to follow the order in the checklist. The users can skip ahead to a factor that they think they want to prioritize and then proceed to the other factors, but all the factors in checklist 1; the general factors, must be checked in order to have a perfect material for a lesson. Then proceed to checklist two and choose either checklist 2a or 2b; whichever is more relevant to the materials you want to develop or adapt. Then continue on to checklist 3 where it reminds you on checking and testing your material before you use it for a lesson. The sequence in the checklist is made as so is because it is what I usually prioritize when I start thinking of developing any teaching materials that I wanted to use. As a conclusion, form doing this assignment I have learned that selecting and adapting a material is not something to take lightly. We need to consider some basic principles in order to get the best material that we can. I also found that having the checklist is really helpful. It help to guide and reminds me to check and add on not just functionality to the teaching aids that I develop but also makes it meaningful and beneficial to my lesson. #
Throughout the whole coursework, I had gain a lot of new knowledge regarding to the development of teaching materials. Beside teacher qualifications and school facilities, another important determinant of quality of education is the teaching and learning materials. It is essential for quality materials to be made avail-able to the teachers and pupils in adequate quantities to support the teaching and learning processes. Teaching aids are important to the teachers because that would help them to explain more to the students. To let also the students understand more.
Teaching materials are the resources a teacher uses to deliver instruction. Each teacher requires a range of tools to draw upon in order to assist and support student learning. These materials play a large role in making knowledge accessible to a learner and can encourage a student to engage with knowledge in different ways.
From the first task, I am required to read and select four articles from a variety of sources on principles of materials selection and adaptation. Moreover, I needed to use my computer skills to present the information in the form of short notes using suitable graphic organisers. Before searching for the articles, I need to ensure that my resources are relevant. So I went to seek the guidance of my lecturer regarding to m y assignments. After that, I had search for multiple resources. Unfortunately, the Institute’s library does not have much information or articles on teaching and learning materials for English Language Subjects. Due to the difficulties, I was left no choice but to search on for articles and online journals on Google. The search result was good. Google contains massive amount of online journal and articles regarding to teaching and learning materials. Then, another problem had occurred. How do I know that the articles and journals are authentic? After reading the articles, I need to identify the writer. To check whether are those reading materials relevant and reliable? It took me many days to search for four proper articles. After that, I need to show my articles to my lecturer. If my lecturer rejects my founding’s, meaning that I will need to redo my work. Moreover, I also need to ensure that every course mates are having the different article. I would not like ending up having the same articles with my friends. After that, I had spent time on making and designing graphic organizers. The hardest part is too make the graphic organizers simple and yet understandable. I had highlighted the main points of each graphic organizer. Then, I summarized everything and convert the article into the graphic organizers. After making the graphic organizers, I needed to ‘re -design’ the looks of my
graphic organizers. I want to make my graphic organizer visually attractive. The task is simple, but yet requires a lot of effort on order to produce an assignment with qualities. Next, I am required to plan and write a lesson plan for a 60-minute lesson based on the KSSR syllabus. Adapt. Then, design and exploit the teaching and learning materials for the lesson planned. Lastly, exhibit my teaching and learning materials.
I had paired up with Nur Amalina to plan our lesson plan. Basically, the lesson plan was an improvised version of our previous lesson plans during our first practicums. We focused on improving the teaching materials (Ampalus the Cat) in teaching adjectives. Instead of sticking to the old lesson plan, Ampalus the cat now has more function. By increasing the numbers of comparative adjectives, the usage of the cat was reinforced. After that, we need to exhibit our teaching and learning materials. The problem is that my cat was sent to the IPG’s Innovation Competition and we do not have sufficient time to make a new cat. So we ended up drawing the cat using computer. As for task 3, I am required to design a checklist to evaluate my teaching and learning materials. The checklist must be based on the factors of selecting teaching and learning materials. It is important that the teaching and learning materials can withstand multiple criteria in selecting the proper and suitable teaching aids. However, I need to ensure that the teaching aids suits pupils level and cultural factors. Then, my teaching aids needed to be accessible, practical, durable, and authentic. Lastly, the teaching aids needed to be low cost, clarified, versatile bad bring impact towards my pupils. I spent time on research and thanked to the sample check list given by my lecturer, I am able to produced own check list based on the factor of selecting proper teaching and learning materials.
To sum up everything, teaching and learning materials played an important role in the Malaysian classroom. Suitable teaching aids help pupils to learn more efficiently. However, teachers need to prepare a check list to ensure their teaching and learning materials are prepared based on several factors of selection. The check list helps teacher to build or use the best teaching aids in the class. Lastly, it is important for teachers to use suitable teaching and learning materials in the class.
