Instructional Materials
The resources that educators are using to make student teaching and learning easier and understanding of subject matter are the instructional materials. These materials are basically the things such as textbooks, multimedia, online resources, and activities that students use, which are considered to be a part of the studies. The materials are essential for teaching and learning, as they can make the whole process easier, quicker, and more effective.
Instructional materials that are often used in learning environments are textbooks, workbooks, e-books and software that are digital resources. It also includes visual aids like charts and graphs and manipulatives for hands-on learning activities. A case in point is that in a science class, models of the solar system may be used as visual aids in conjunction with a textbook to make it easier to understand the subject.
Absolutely! With the provision of various ways to interact with the content material and addressing the needs of different learner types, instructional materials can be a major force in the learning of students. For instance, the introduction of videos into a lesson makes it interesting for the visual learners but usage of lab equipment for example experiments would be the best method to be taught by kinesthetic learners. The findings of various studies indicate that the use of proper materials can positively affect the absorption and memory of the information.
The instructional materials should be chosen by teachers after careful consideration of various issues like the correspondence of the materials to the curriculum standards, the availability of the various learning styles that students prefer, the accessibility of the materials for all students, and the relevance as well as the engagement level of the content. For instance, the employment of materials that reflect the culture can boost the participation of students as well as their connection to the topic.
Absolutely, online learning environments can be enhanced with the use of digital resources like interactive modules, video clips and discussion forums in instructional materials. To give a practical example, an online course can avail of video lectures and quizzes alongside a discussion board to create a comprehensive learning simulation that resembles conventional classroom communication.