Lesson: 6 Using and Evaluating Instructional Materials

                                      

                                     "Using and Evaluating Instructional Materials"

    Instructional materials are highly important for teaching, especially for inexperienced teachers. Teachers rely on instructional materials in every aspect of teaching. They need materials for background information on the subject they are teaching. Young teachers usually have not built up their expertise whenever they enter into the field. Teachers often use instructional materials for lesson planning.  These materials are also needed by teachers to assess the knowledge of their students. Teachers often assess students by assigning tasks, creating projects, and administering exams. Instructional materials are essential for all of these activities.

   Because students spend a significant amount of their classroom time using instructional materials and because of the large variety of available materials, both print and nonprint, it is crucial that all materials be thoroughly evaluated.

   Instructional materials shall be evaluated and selected according to specified procedures by qualified certified staff to ensure that the materials in the educational structure support the curriculum and meet the diverse needs of students. The instructional materials selected must be age and grade appropriate and must contribute to, and be aligned with, the curriculum and competencies.