Tools of the Trade "Teaching Aids Bank"

My Target

At the end of this activity, you will gain competence in preparing instructional materials that are appropriate to the learning.

My Map

To reach your target, follow the below:

Step 1: Decide on a specific content area. 

Step 2: Find the learning resources relevant to your topic that are available from your school/university's learning resource center.

Step 3: Develop a pile of teaching aids (flash cards, pictures, cut-outs, transparencies).

Step 4: Organize them in a box. 

My Tools

As you observe the class, use the activity forms provided for you to document your observations.

An Observation/ Survey Guide

1. Are there learning resources useful for your topic in the resource center you visited?

2. Are the available materials appropriate for your target grade/year level?

3. List down those that can be useful for your topic.

4. What other materials can you make? (like flash cards, posters, cut-outs, transparencies, etc)?

Name of the School Observed:    ---

Location of the School:              Bangkok, Thailand

Date of Visit:                             29 November 2019

As I observed my co-teacher in Social Studies Grade 10, both of us have made use of the learning resources that are made available in our school. Since the topic is “Battle of Midway” more information can be gathered online, thus, making use of the internet resources of the school’s main library helped a lot.

Videos were downloaded from Youtube, through the official channel of H (History). Photos of notable persons involved in the topic discussed were also provided to the students in enhance memory recall on these specific people and the event itself.

I would say that the materials used and availed were appropriate to Grade 10 students.

Here are some of the materials that can be used for this topic:

                    🚩Video Clip

                    🚩Photos

                    🚩Worksheets

                    🚩Timetables (for the timeline of events)

                    🚩Handouts

Learning Resources on a Specific Content Area

Use this graphic organizer to present the learning resources relevant to the topic chosen. On the line inside the box, indicate if the resource is already AVAILABLE. MAY BE PURCHASED, OR WILL BE MADE (by you, of course!)

Topic: South America’s Amazon Basin               Grade/Year Level: Grade 9

Learning Resource Materials for Social Studies: South America's Amazon Basin. 

My Analysis

Give at least three benefits of doing a survey of available materials before making your own materials? Explain each.  

Appropriateness of the Materials - It gave me more time to think of what should be appropriately used and what not. There are certain teaching aids that do not work in all classes. This also means that a variation of activities can used in each class as long as these activities and instructional materials are coherent to the learning objectives.

Avenue to new ideas - The survey allowed me to develop new ideas that can be used in my subject. These ideas my not necessarily new but they can be modified, improved, and enriched.

Efficiency - There are readily available materials that can be used while surveying the learning resource center. I was able to use my energy, efforts, and materials wisely. It became a lot easier for me to decide which materials to use for my lessons. It allowed me to maximize the use of my time in preparing the lesson.

My Reflections

Which of the materials did you like making the most? Why?

The material that I like the most was the preparation of making a reaction paper. Reaction paper is new to the students. They seldom write and they have less confidence in writing knowing that they cannot express well in English because of the grammar issues. But for me, taking the grammar aside, write ups like this is a good exercise for students to improve their English skills. If they get used to it, they may discover their talents in writing. Another thing that liked the most while preparing these teaching aids was researching the appropriate video clips to show to the students. Videos are very flexible and they are entertaining. Using videos allows students to learn, to experience, and to show feelings and emotions. Thus, I find it challenging to select the proper video for this specific topic.

What difficulties, if any, did you encounter in making the materials? How did you overcome them?

With the advent of technology and the readily available materials or the free and downloadable worksheets online, difficulties are less likely to happen. If there is any, it is probably when the downloaded materials are unreadable or in low quality. Nonetheless, teaching materials and aids are already made available for everyone except for those websites that require registration, membership, and fees.

What tips can you give teachers regarding preparation of teaching materials?

When preparing teaching materials always start with the learning objectives. Everything that is done and used in the classroom is all moored from the goals of the lessons. Materials should be cost-effective, reusable, and appropriate. Cost-effective meaning a teacher can use recyclable materials in making flash cards or posters. It is reusable for those who are using maps, charts, and diagrams. It should be appropriate to the needs of the students and appropriate to their learning development.

Documentation

Grade 10 students in their Social Studies class.