Developing, Using and Organising Resources in Specialist Area Report

This report delves into the multifaceted aspects of resource development, utilization, and organization within a specialized area of teaching and learning. It begins by clarifying the purpose of resources in educational contexts, emphasizing their role in facilitating student knowledge acquisition and skill development. The report then evaluates the effectiveness of various resources, such as textbooks, multimedia, and school libraries, in meeting diverse individual learning needs. It analyzes the principles of resource design, highlighting the importance of factors like relevance, motivation, and accessibility. Furthermore, the report examines how theories and models of inclusive curriculum design can inform resource development to cater to a wide range of learners. It also explores the integration of emerging technologies and innovative approaches to engage students effectively. The report concludes with a reflection on the author's own practices, identifying strengths and areas for improvement in resource utilization.

Developing, Using and
Organising Resources in a
Specialist Area

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
TASK...............................................................................................................................................2
a) Explaining the purpose of resources in teaching and learning..........................................2
b) Evaluating the effectiveness of specific resources in meeting individual learning needs in
teaching and learning contexts...............................................................................................2
c) Analysing the principles of resource design.......................................................................3
d) Analysing the way theories, principles and models of inclusive curriculum design can be
used to inform resource development.....................................................................................3
f) Designing resources including emerging technology.........................................................4
g) Employing resources to engage and meet the individual needs.........................................5
h) Analysing ways through which resource can be adapted to inclusive approaches............5
I) Reflecting own practice and improving areas for strength.................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
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INTRODUCTION
There are various types of resources which are included in lifelong learning and they help
in the development of students. It is important for a teacher to use enough resources that can
assist in developing knowledge of students for particular subjects. The present report is based on
Developing, Using and Organising Resources in a Specialist Area. This study will cover the
purpose of resources in teaching and learning. Along with this, the sources that inform resource
development will be evaluated.
TASK
a) Explaining the purpose of resources in teaching and learning
According to the given scenario, working as a newly qualified specialist teacher in a
school. While working as a teacher, there are different types of resources required to provide
effective teaching and learning facilities. There are different types of resources which can be
used to provide teaching and learning such as booklet, textbook, multimedia resources, school
libraries, etc (Teo and Khoh, 2015). The purpose of using textbook is to provide in depth
knowledge related to a particular subject. With the use of authentic resources such as leaflet
information, magazines help students to investigate issues of interest, consolidate their learning
or motivate them to undertake further learning. Video can be used for teaching and learning as it
helps students to view video on websites in their private study time. Purpose of providing video
is to recognise information provided in class while teaching. Effective use of resources not only
helps in learning and teaching but assists in introducing students with many different resources
hubs. Furthermore, it helps in increasing student’s learning experience and to meet their various
learning needs (Resources on Teaching & Learning., 2018).
b) Evaluating the effectiveness of specific resources in meeting individual learning needs in
teaching and learning contexts
There are few resources which is considered to be effective to meet individual learning
such as textbook, multimedia resources, school libraries, etc. It is evaluated that multimedia
resources can help in embracing audio, visual teaching aids, web-based materials, online learning
platform, etc. Some of the benefits of using multimedia resources are flexibility adaptability,
possibility of interactivity, multi sensory experience and connectedness (Doel and Shardlow,
2017). In addition to this, it also provides opportunities to both; students and teachers to access
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up to date information. For instance: teachers lead to make selection of materials which present
various sides of controversial issues to assist students in creating critical thinking and to make
effective judgment in their daily lives. Still, it is important for the teacher to make sure that
information which is available online is reliable, authentic or not for students in developing their
learning. On the other side, school libraries and teacher librarians lead to play an important role
to assist students and teachers to gain access to knowledge and information which are required in
process of learning and teaching (Carter and McCarthy, 2014). It is evaluated that resources
centre with plenty of information in different formats help students in developing their
knowledge and information related to their subject area. Resources such as whiteboard,
PowerPoint presentation, worksheets. With the use of interactive whiteboard and its various
features help students to be stay focused and engaged in their learning activity. Further power-
point help students to learn main points of subjects. At last worksheets give to students a way to
measure whether learners able to understood the topics and the teaching methods or not.
c) Analysing the principles of resource design
There are few learning resources that can be textbooks which are already prepared under
curriculum. There are some others such as reading list, notes, etc. which can be designed in
respect to enhance effectiveness of learning and development. The general principle of designing
good learning materials can be effective because they show different key points which can be
considered at the time of choosing pre-existing material to be used (Nilson, 2016). For instance,
to reinforce student’s awareness related to the key terminology, therefore it is important to
consider power point slides. In these key questions can be highlighted in relation to each term.
Further, issues can be undertaken such as relevance to the course, motivation and accessibility.
Further, it is analysing that the basic principal of good learning can applied different types of
resources such as intellectual role, relevance to course learning outcomes, engaging with specific
students etc. All the resources to enhance learning need to be designed in such a manner that
student’s learning and knowledge can be developed. Along with this, it should be used in such a
manner that teachers can easily consider those resources in their learning.
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d) Analysing the way theories, principles and models of inclusive curriculum design can be used
to inform resource development
The idea of curriculum is in use from generations. But the way through which it can be
understood and theories related to the curriculum have changed from last few decades.
Curriculum is an attempt to communicate the important principles and features of education
proposal in such a manner that it is open to critical scrutiny and capable enough for effective
translation into practice (Savery, 2015). There are few ways which can be considered as
curriculum theory and practice that are curriculum as process, curriculum as praxis and to
accomplish certain ends in students. Different theories which can be considered at the time of
carrying out research are known as the planned curriculum, the delivered curriculum, and the
experienced curriculum.
e) Evaluating the sources that inform resource development
A teacher has to play a significant role in respect to develop a resource. It can be referred
as a person who is in charge of preparing and developing resources which can easily satisfy the
needs of students and assist them to accomplish their full possible for developing their learning
activity. Resource developer needs to perform different duties and responsibilities. It is essential
to identify the individual needs of all learners (Forzani, 2014). At the time when task is
accomplished by the students, the resource developer can easily measure their performance
which directly enable the resources to find out effectiveness of their material that is considered to
be important. There are many students who are not capable enough to grasp information fast.
Therefore, enough teaching resources required to make available for students in respect
to provide effective teaching and learning facilities. In the present scenario, technology has
played an important role in respect to improve learning. Hence, resource developer can use
technological resources in order to develop knowledge and learning of learners. Downloadable
resources such as power point presentation, worksheets, eBooks and Podcast that can bring
various benefits in the learning environment (Bradshaw and Hultquist, 2016). All these resources
have some benefits and limitations. One of another resources which can be easily consider by
teacher is power point which is known as portable. However, information provided in points are
brief which can create difficulty for some students in developing their learning.
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f) Designing resources including emerging technology
There are many new technologies which are introduced in the market and can be used in
respect to design resources. Power points slides is one of the effective resources which can be
designed in such an effective manner that learning of students can be improved and developed.
Worksheet which can be downloaded online which help in saving the time of preparing new
worksheet (Fischer, Hilton and Wiley, 2015). Apart from this, e-books are known as another type
of resources which can be considered at the time of developing resources. It helps in providing a
wide range of facilities that can assist in developing and creating information which is useful for
the students. It plays an important role to gain huge information in less time. Through emerging
technologies, teachers can provide e-teaching facilities to the students which help them in
providing better knowledge and information.
g) Employing resources to engage and meet the individual needs
There are various resources which can be considered in order to engage and meet the
individual needs such as ICT’s skills, numeracy, learning styles, etc. With the help of resources,
teacher can easily improve information communication technology skills of students, education
styles, etc. Interactive white board and videos are known as the well-known resources which can
be used to meet the needs of an individual (Savery, 2015). There is different situation in which a
learning need to be adopted as per the requirements of the students. Students should be actively
engaged in real life through teaching which can be practised by lifelong learning processes.
These resources help them to meet different opportunities as well as to empower their mental and
functional skills.
These learning resources include worksheets, educator workshops, non-fiction books and
different types of software, webcasts, maps & atlases, references books and activity books. These
resources help individuals in exploring knowledge no matter what kind of function they are
learning. It assists teachers in differentiating instructions in classrooms and in learning materials
like providing assignments at home. Individual's perceptions become more flexible and clear.
Students posses a prior knowledge and are built up with a cultural background. Their frustration
level decreases and they comprehend material interestingly. Meaningful tasks and reading
effective books improve their way of thinking and raise attitude in them.
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h) Analysing ways through which resource can be adapted to inclusive approaches
While working as a teacher, it is important to analyse and develop understanding related
to the strengths and limitations of each learner and finding out learning needs so that all can
work together to overcome learning difficulties and weaknesses. For learner, it is essential to be
motivated and they should be encouraged by teachers to make them inclusive in the learning
environment and enable to grasp their full abilities. There are different situations in which
learning resources can be adopted as per requirements and learning needs of each student in the
classroom (Leu, Kinzer and Henry, 2017). All the resources which are adapted and differentiated
for students on the basis of visual impairments, hearing impairments and dyslexic students in
order to their personal needs. Therefore, it is important that in computer size of fonts should be
changes to bigger and colour font can be modify to black in respect to meet the requirements of
visually impaired students. Along with this, podcast can be downloaded so that they can easily
understand the learning outcomes and lesson plans.
I) Reflecting own practice and improving areas for strength
In my teaching and learning, environment resources which are undertaken by me are
valuable. Different types of resources such as Power point slides, worksheets and interactive
white boards which are considered by me while providing teaching facility. Mostly, I used
PowerPoint slides which provide my students an objective of the lesson and things which is
taught in the class. My strength is that I can use Power point slides in an effective way (August
and Shanahan, 2017).
There are some areas which is need to improve such as available resources. In the
classroom different level students have to be prepared for both higher ability learner and lower
ability learner. Therefore, I can include one learner task in my teaching session with the use of
interactive whiteboard resource. I can plan a group activity which can be practices with the use
of interactive whiteboard, that can help in developing learning of both high level and lower level
students. At last online research can be done in an effective way in respect to understand the use
interactive whiteboard that help in engaging learner in the learning activity.
In school group activity can be planned which can be carried out with the help of
interactive whiteboard not simply activities based in whiteboards. However working in a group
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help in providing opportunity to interact with each other and share ideas and opinion in respect to
assignments and other learning material.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be concluded that at the time of providing teaching and
learning facilities, there are different types of resources which are needed to be considered by the
teacher. In class, different level students learn among them few are not enough capable to gain
knowledge and information in one time. For those, different resources can be adopted to provide
the teaching facility. Further, it can be concluded that there are new technologies emerged which
help in improving the learning of students.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
August, D. and Shanahan, T., 2017. Developing literacy in second-language learners: Report of
the National Literacy Panel on Language-Minority Children and Youth. Routledge.
Bradshaw, M. and Hultquist, B.L., 2016. Innovative teaching strategies in nursing and related
health professions. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Carter, R. and McCarthy, M., 2014. Vocabulary and language teaching. Routledge.
Doel, M. and Shardlow, S.M., 2017. Modern social work practice: Teaching and learning in
practice settings. Routledge.
Fischer, L., Hilton, J., Robinson, T.J. and Wiley, D.A., 2015. A multi-institutional study of the
impact of open textbook adoption on the learning outcomes of post-secondary students.
Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 27(3), pp.159-172.
Forzani, F.M., 2014. Understanding “core practices” and “practice-based” teacher education:
Learning from the past. Journal of Teacher Education, 65(4), pp.357-368.
Leu, D.J., Kinzer, C.K., Coiro, J., Castek, J. and Henry, L.A., 2017. New literacies: A dual-level
theory of the changing nature of literacy, instruction, and assessment. Journal of
Education, 197(2), pp.1-18.
Nilson, L.B., 2016. Teaching at its best: A research-based resource for college instructors. John
Wiley & Sons.
Savery, J.R., 2015. Overview of problem-based learning: Definitions and distinctions. Essential
readings in problem-based learning: Exploring and extending the legacy of Howard S.
Barrows, 9, pp.5-15.
Savery, J.R., 2015. Overview of problem-based learning: Definitions and distinctions. Essential
readings in problem-based learning: Exploring and extending the legacy of Howard S.
Barrows, 9, pp.5-15.
Teo, T.W. and Khoh, R.L., 2015. Introduction. In TEACHING SCIENCE IN CULTURALLY
RELEVANT WAYS: IDEAS FROM SINGAPORE TEACHERS (pp. 1-6).
Online
Resources on Teaching & Learning., 2018 [Online] Available through: <
https://ldaamerica.org/resources/resources-on-teaching-learning/>.
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