Reading Material for Lesson 5.1 Written Instructional Material

4. W.I.M prepared by the instructor

4.3. Points to be kept in mind while preparing instructional materials

Following points may be kept in view by instructors during the preparation of written instructional materials:

  • Use simple, direct, and easily understandable language;
  • Supplement written information should be given with many sketches as would help the trainee grasp the information with clarity;
  • Using impressive layout;
  • Giving specific guidelines wherever necessary;
  • Do not give a volume of information, rather limit the contents that are absolutely essential;
  • Provide questions that lead to the attainment of objectives;
  • Follow syllabus, and titles that will cover the syllabus;
  • Provide references for additional study if required;
  • Provide the specific objectives or learning outcomes in clear terms, to enable the trainees to know what exactly is expected of them at the end of each learning task.
  • The instructional materials should be prepared keeping in mind, considering the standard of the trainees/learners.
  • The objectives are to be easily identified and should be expressed in simple clear terms.
  • The selected topics should directly be related to the knowledge of trainees and the skills of trainees, should be inter-related/integrated with knowledge.
  • The principles of learning related to Pedagogy and Andragogy.
  • Topics should be organised and sequenced to support need of the trainee in the following manner.
  • Pre-requisite skills and knowledge should be introduced in advance. Those are combined with subsequent items and applied.
  •  Knowledge and skill are attained through a series of information and task of gradually increasing difficulty.
  • Skill and knowledge acquired in one task are immediately used as an exercise and assignment.
  • Methodology: Self learning (programmed learning exercise sheet etc).
  • Presentation time: An important factor over looked by the trainer/instructor.
  • Validation of instructional materials.
  •  Reshape if needed after summative and formative evaluation.
  • Formative W.I.M. must have the following qualities.
  • Description should be free from errors of grammer, spelling and typography.
  • Sentence structure and picture should be clear, simple, concise and straight forward.
  • Aim of the instruction on information/sentences should communicate the instructional goals completely.
  • Use of punctuation abbreviations and hyphens should be correct.
  • Ambiguity should be avoided in statement and it should be clear and straight forward.