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Concept of instructional materials

Instructional materials, also known as Teaching and Learning Materials (TLM), are a vital component
of the teaching and learning process. When used well, they can support learning and aid a learner in
concretizing a learning experience and make learning more exciting, interesting and interactive.

Introduction to teaching and learning materials

Instructional Materials or Teaching and Learning Materials are resources that a teacher may use in
teaching and learning situations to help achieve desired learning objectives and to facilitate the
teaching and learning process. Broadly, the term refers to a spectrum of educational materials that
teachers use in the classroom to achieve specific learning objectives. These include the lectures,
readings, textbooks, multimedia components, and other resources.

The best instructional materials are aligned with all other elements in the course, including the
learning objectives, assessments, and activities. Ideally, the teaching and learning materials will be
tailored to the content in which they are being used, to the learners in whose class they are being
used, and the teacher.

Instructional materials can be classified by type; including audio, visual and audio-visual resources.

Audio media. These are teaching and learning materials that appeal to the auditory sense. For
example: podcasts, telephones, radios, records and record players, storytelling, etc.

Visual media. These are materials that appeal to the sense of sight (eyes). For example: images,
real objects, charts, flip charts, chalk boards and whiteboard, projected aids, etc.

Audio-visual media. These are teaching and learning materials that have the capacity to appeal
to both auditory and sight senses. For example: television, educational videos, etc.
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Purpose of teaching and learning materials

Teaching materials come in many shapes and sizes, but they all have in common the ability to support
learning. The purpose and importance of teaching and learning materials is to make lessons
interesting, learning easy and enable teachers to easily express concepts.

Learning support. Learning materials can significantly increase learners’ achievement by

supporting learning. For example, an educational video may provide a learner with new insights
and an appealing worksheet may provide the learner with new opportunities to practice a new
skill gained in class. This process aids in the learning process by allowing the learner to explore
the knowledge independently as well as providing repetition. Learning materials, regardless of
what kind, all have some function in student learning.

Lesson structure. Teaching and learning materials can also add important structure to lesson
planning and the delivery of instruction. Learning materials act as a guide for both the teacher
and the learner. They can provide a valuable routine in the teaching and learning process. For
example, by providing a summarizing poster or video after each topic.

Differentiation of instruction. In addition to supporting learning more generally, teaching and

learning materials can assist teachers in the differentiation of instruction. Differentiation of
instruction is the tailoring of lessons and instruction to the different learning styles and
capacities within your classroom. Learning materials such as worksheets, videos, group activity
instructions, or any other, all allow teachers to modify them to best activate each individual
learner's needs or learning style, for example by using different media.

Types of instructional materials

There are many types or categories of resources that teachers can use to support the teaching and
learning process. Some resources or more traditional, others are more innovative. Because a successful
integration is more than just getting the tools into your classroom, every tool is accompanied
with suggestions on how to engage your learners and enrich your lessons.

Traditional and innovative resources

There is endless list of Teaching and Learning Materials. The ones we are most familiar with are
traditional resources. These may include any textbooks and workbooks used in the classroom.
For example, language arts classrooms almost always have literature textbooks, writing
textbooks, and even vocabulary and spelling workbooks. More innovative materials may include
charts, maps, videos, images, diagrams and flashcards.

In addition to these resources and to help you find your way in the endless possibilities of
instructional materials, here are great and innovative teaching and learning tools which you can
start using:
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1. Podcasts
2. Screencasts
3. Educational videos
4. Educational posters
5. Open Educational Resources (OERs)

Podcasts

A podcast is a set of audio recordings. Podcasting allows content to be broadcast and distributed
via audio files over the internet. The recordings work a lot like TV or radio series, except that
people listen to them on demand and they are not a real time broadcast. Users can stream
podcasts online or can download them to a personal device for easy listening offline.

Tips to integrate podcasting in teaching and learning

 Create podcasts for learners and step them through assignments and projects or
explain challenging concepts.
 Let learners collaborate on a class wide podcast that offers a living record of class
activities, with every learner contributing reports over the year.
 Have learners create podcasts to debate topics, interview guest speakers or record
collaborative conversations.

Screencasts

A screencast is a digital video recording of what’s happening on the teacher's computer monitor,
usually containing audio narration. Common examples of screencasts are: tutorials, training
videos, video lessons and recorded presentations. Screen casting is one of the most useful tools
to use for digital storytelling.
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Features of a screencast

Tips to use screen casting in teaching and learning

 Deliver attractive audio-visual learning resources to learners
 Provide audio-visual feedback to learners

Educational videos

An Educational Video is a video which presents educational material for a topic which is to be
learned. The format may vary, but it always consists of moving visual media.

Tips to use educational videos in teaching and learning

 Create educational animated videos to provide visual learning resources to learners
 Let learners create their own videos summarizing a topic, project, book report
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Educational posters

An educational poster is a tool that enables visualization in the classroom to foster student
learning. A great example is an educational poster in the format of an infographic. An infographic
is a collection of imagery, charts, and minimal text that gives an easy-to-understand overview of
a topic. As in the example below, infographics use striking, engaging visuals to communicate
information quickly and clearly.

View the below good practice of an infographic

Tips to use educational posters in teaching and learning

 Create appealing learning resources and assignments
 Create infographics to explain and illustrate difficult concepts
 Create classroom poster on essential learning content to decorate the classroom
 Create newsletters to share class information with learners, the school and parents
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Open Educational Resources (OERs)

Open Educational Resources (OERs) are a fantastic type of instructional material because they
are free to reuse, adapt, and share. Moreover, they have been created and curated by
educational professionals. OERs might take the form of lesson plans, quizzes, online articles,
digital media, databases, simulations, and much more. OERs can be found in large collections or
through search engines and may range from individual images to entire courses.

Summary of the key points of OERs

1. Adaptation and redistribution of learning resources is allowed
2. Learning materials are open to all
3. Learning materials are released in an open license
4. Learning materials available in any format (video, text, etc.)

Tips for integrating OERs in teaching and learning

 Find an OER that will help support course or unit-level objectives
 Assess the quality of the OER
 Eliminate extraneous content within the OER
 Remix the OER with other educational materials, if applicable

Overview of the best OER platforms

 TTE Sandbox: One Stop Portal for Distance Learning
 Khan Academy
 TED
 OpenLearn Create
 OER Commons
 TeacherTube

Choosing instructional materials

There are many types of resources that teachers can use to support the teaching and learning process.
Teaching and learning materials can come in many different shapes, sizes and formats. No one tool is
better than another in enhancing learning, as there are different factors to consider when selecting
appropriate teaching and learning materials.

Integrating instructional materials

As teachers, it is essential that we become familiar with the type of instructional materials, which can
be used in any teaching/ learning situation; from podcasting to screencasting and from infographics
to engaging videos, among others.
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 Which of the newly introduced tools/formats to create

instructional materials inspired you the most? Why?

 How would you integrate it in one of your lessons?

Tip: think about a specific topic and learning objective.

Factors to consider when selecting instructional materials

Instructional materials provide the basis for what learners will experience and learn. They hold the
power to either engage or demotivate learners. Therefore, instructional materials must be carefully
planned, selected, organized, refined, and used.

Overview of key factors to consider when selecting instructional materials:

Take into consideration individual needs and learning styles:

Choose materials that present information in a variety of ways. Using mixed media (text, video,
images, real world examples, graphs, etc.) make information more interesting and address
learners’ different learning styles.

Make sure the materials support learning objectives:

Provide a wide range of materials that will enrich and support the curriculum and course
objectives. The instructional materials should reinforce and supplement, not substitute for, the
teacher’s teaching efforts.

Make the materials clear and accessible:

Make sure learners have sufficient background knowledge to comprehend the learning
materials.

The Open University (2017). Teaching and Learning Materials. Retrieved April 10, 2022, from
https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/mod/page/view.php?id=168499