I'm interested in your opinion. Yep, that's you! I don't often ask you for favours, but I hope you won't mind passing on some of your thoughts here... Please? :-)
I've been experimenting with yet another materials design format, potentially to become a whole new section of the English Raven resource website. The general idea is to create material that provides input/models and certain kinds of targeted practice all on one screen or sheet of paper.
Here's a sample I've been working on:
It's still a bit rough on the design and content fronts at the moment (and this is only one of several 'strands' I am experimenting with), but bear with me...
For the screen format, this allows everything to be presented on one beam projector or IWB screen (with the teacher then able to zoom in or out to focus on various sections), and for all relevant sound files to be played directly in/from the screen.
For the paper format (which basically mirrors what would appear on screen), the idea is for the learners to have everything on one piece of paper. That way it could be used in a variety of ways as part of a broader lesson. For example, they can be folded in half (with the print content inside the fold), and a teacher could do a variety of more open pre- and post activities on the front and back covers of the folded paper (which, when opened up, has the input and practice stuff on the open spread). Alternatively, (without any folding) all the pre-provided content can be on one side of the handout, and something else can be done with the back (before, while or after using the practice material on the other side).
Of course, the digital format with all sound files embedded would also allow learners to use it on their own computers, in-class or at home, etc...
I think the benefits of only having one screen to refer to and only one potential page for photocopying purposes are pretty obvious to a lot of teachers, but a few questions are still giving me pause for thought:
1. Does this format result in material that is too cluttered, with type that is too small to read with ease (on screen or on paper)?
2. Is this actually the sort of content and format that teachers would be interested in using?
So what do you reckon?
Go ahead with this sort of material, re-think it, or shelve it?
=D
