A gazillion textbooks, numerous notes, piled up photocopies, and other study materials!
The lives of teachers and students would be incomplete without the above-mentioned things. Study materials play a pivotal role in the teaching-learning process. What are study materials? In simple words, it is the collection of materials including textbooks, basic syllabus of subjects, patterns, additional information of in-class activities, etc., that teachers may use to help students in achieving desired academic success.
Study materials are created to help students understand the concepts in a better way. In recent times videos, audio, animations, etc. have started to become an integral part of study materials. The major reason is the effectiveness of such materials. Without further ado, let us take a look at five things that teachers must keep in mind while giving out study materials. Having access to study material makes it easier for the students to have access to reference texts, making it easier to study. Through the study material for students, it helps them to become more efficient and productive.
It is important to note that study material can be of different types. Be it in writing, videos or even audios, each having their own utilities for the students. The objective behind study material for students remains to provide additional support to the students in their learning process.
The teaching-learning process imparted by educational institutions depends heavily on the usage of proposed study material. Without the use of these educational resources, a student’s learning process will be left incomplete, which is why often teachers prescribe additional study material for students. Most toppers would also cite additional study material such as practice papers to be the secret behind their high marks.
Types of study materials for students
In today’s day and age, a good study material is not restricted to just textbooks and research papers, but is also available online. Existing on a virtual platform means greater availability, across access and pricing concerns. In the section below, an outline of different kinds of study material used by students have been provided. Let’s take a look at the updated list of source material used regularly by students.
- Traditional resources such as textbooks, workbooks, flashcards, research papers, etc.
- Testing resources such as question banks, model answers, etc.
- Graphic resources such as video lectures, illustrations, modern media/news outlets.
How to choose a study material?
When choosing study material for students, there are several aspects that need to be provided with due consideration. The reason being that providing incorrect study material for students will make it difficult for them to fulfill their educational goals. Hence, extreme caution needs to be administered when dealing with the choice of study materials.
- Having access to and regularly using a study resource is a common practice among students, especially while preparing for upcoming examinations. In a stressful situation such as the aforementioned, an ideal study material is one that fits the needs of the individual student. Here are 4 guidelines. The chosen material should have a proper structure and arrangement. This helps new learners approach a topic chronologically. The structure should also be easy to deconstruct into smaller portions that can be marked for revision or doubt clearing.
- Whether online or offline, a study guide should be closely related to the syllabus, both in terms of structure as well as terminology. For more scientific subjects, the name of a phenomenon is a hint to what the actual events are, which makes it crucial to use the right terms.
- Use material which complies with the student’s individual learning behaviour and style. For example, if a student is a visual learner, choosing a Youtube video might be more helpful than reading research papers.
- Authenticity is a huge issue in the academic world, with recognised thinkers going over and beyond being factually correct. However, the mark of a good academic source of education is proper grammar and punctuation that helps students grasp the matter efficiently.
Study Materials- Five Things to Keep in Mind
There are several aspects that will need to be considered when selecting study materials for the students. The reason being that each subject has their own requirements and at the same time there are separate student requirements. As a result, it is the responsibility of the teaching staff to ensure that correct study materials are provided to the students that can help in their growth and can also contribute towards answering the questions that they may have.
It has already been established that the study materials contribute towards supporting the students in providing them with more clarity on topics. It also allows them better understanding which makes it easy for them to make notes. In the subsequent section an outline of the five essential things that needs to be considered when developing or finding the correct study material has been outlined.
1. Structure
The study materials should act as an aid to your students and hence, they need to have a proper structure. It should be clear and concise. Make sure that the pages are numbered, add a table of contents so that your students can find what they are looking for easily, and divide the topics into small bite-sized chunks. Mark the subtopics and add enough tables so that things are not chaotic. The last thing that you want your students to be is stressed. A well-structured and organized study material will help your students prepare well for exams.
2. Content
While it is not a sin to learn a little extra, make sure that the study material you are handing out talks about the things discussed in the classroom. Of course, it can have more questions and activities. However, try and limit the content to concepts discussed in the classroom so that your students don’t get overwhelmed. If you are adding extra content, make sure to add a footnote. Give a brief explanation regarding the same so that the students have some idea.
3. Understand the Students
There are different types of students. Some might be visual learners while some others might be kinesthetic. You have to keep in mind that the study material must address and appeal to each student. It might sound like a herculean task. However, adding a few flowcharts, images, podcasts, and videos will also help cater to the students more effectively.
4. Language
There is no scope for grammatical or spelling errors in the study materials. Students depend on the study material and if there are errors and faults in the material itself, how do you expect them to perform well? Study materials that you source from external sources should be reviewed before you share them with your students. Ensure that there are no mistakes in the material that you share with your students.
5. Illustrations and Visuals
As mentioned above, it is important to include visuals and illustrations in the study material. This will make the students learn better. Flowcharts and tables make the concepts loom easier and appeal to the students. The essence of teaching is to make complex concepts seem simple and including visuals will help you achieve just that!
Study materials also include the learning pathways from different sources such as online sources and asking friends or taking the help of any third person. With the help of useful and relevant study material, students will not only secure good marks in their exams but also improve their academic performance. These materials are pivotal to enhance the effectiveness of learning. Even the activities that teachers incorporate in the classroom can be considered study materials.
The idea is to create the best learning experience and to make students capable of facing exams and life fearlessly. Mugging up the lessons or scoring great grades are not the only things that matter. The efforts that students put in, the values that they inculcate, the views that they develop, etc. are equally important.
The objective of every teacher is to ensure that students get a deeper understanding of the topic rather than just mugging them up. This is essential for their personal growth and development as it will allow them to be able to develop their own perceptions. At the same time having clarity about topics will also allow them to better Express ideas and opinions.
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