How to Select Resources That Meet the Needs of Learners...

Once the needs of the learners have been assessed and the right techniques have been selected it is vital to choose the correct resources to support and meet the needs of the learners. There is a wide range of resources that can be used but here is a selection that may meet the needs of your learners:

Films: appeal to all learning styles and all abilities of learners, they create a more relaxed environment and can offer real life situations that can't be created in the class room setting. for the lower abilities films have a way of explaining different points of view in an alternative way however for the higher abilities, questions could be set and the learners have to find out the answers from the film, this is also a good assessment method to check the learners have understood what has been shown.

Quiz: this is a fun and interactive resource that can be tailored to different learning styles, for example if the group is of lower ability and learn best visually, then 4 pictures can be put up around the room and the students have to run to the correct answer, this will get the learners interested and interacting. Alternatively higher ability groups can have a read/write quiz where they have to write their answers down and share them with the rest of the group, this is also a good peer learning technique and assessment method.

Power Point Presentation: are a vital resource when delivering information, they can appeal to all learning styles IF they are used in the correct manner, for example expecting the learners to sit for 3 hours and listen and not take part in any other activity the learners wouldn't learn anything because they would become disengaged. however if the power point provides the basis of the teaching other activities and resources can be used along side it, the power point can be left up at all time to remind students, e.g. of their aims of objectives.

Picture Cards: are good resource if the group is of a lower ability, they are visual aid and can support what is being said, for example if you showed a learner a selection of photo's they can select the most relevant 1, this is also a good assessment method. Ask the learner a question and get them to point at the answers (or picture card) to assess their learning. Picture cards can be any size or colour, they can be adapted easily and they are inclusive, for example if someone was from another culture and spoke a different language they can still be included in the sessions if picture cards are used, they wont feel excluded.