Digital learning resources: What are teachers looking for? Wim de Boer EdReNe - 2nd Strategic seminar June 9th – June 11th 2008

Digital learning resources: What are teachers looking for? Wim de Boer EdReNe - 2nd Strategic seminar June 9th – June 11th 2008

Curriculum A plan for learning... The plan in The Netherlands: the textbook

Curricular spider web Rationale Content Teacher role Materials & Resources Grouping Location Time Assessment Aims & Objectives Learning activities

Learning materials “on the move” New educational organisation and approaches: more emphasis on independent learning, competences, authentic learning environments New providers: other providers, new partnerships, new roles publishers The role of ICT (digital learning resources, VLEs, quality, metadata / traceability / access) Shortage of teachers New ways of funding the learning resources

Educational Resources Monitor Research Annual examination of trends in the field of educational materials two-dimension model: –digital & paper-based –coherent packages of subject-related learning resources (we call it texbooks) & learning resources that don't have the coherency and are smaller, for more flexible use (we call it flexible learning materials) what is used, how much, why and how searched for and selected?

Main findings The texbooks are still widely used There are interesting differences between sectors, gender, experience and topics on the use Most teachers still use paper Digital is more flexible and more used in "newer" education Searching for resources goes by Google, it costs a lot of time

Teaching time with textbooks and flexible learning materials only textbooks combination only flexible learning materials

Teaching time used with digital or paper-based learning materials paper combination digital

Why use flexible learning materials? To better connect with pupils reality; it is more fun Flexible learning materials are enriching, and are used in projects They are often digital and found on the internet Differences in those that create and those that use POVO self made 23%44% made with colleagues 30%36% made by others 47%20% flexible learning resources used:

Looking for learning materials How often do teachers search? POVOPO/VO daily3%6%5% weekly27%33%31% monthly55%45%48% almost never 16% never0% How much time it takes them? POVOPO/VO < 5 min8%9% 5-15 min35%24%27% min37%39%38% > 30 min20%29%27% Google is most used as a starting point

What do teachers find important when searching for flexible learning materials? Most important: –options for independent work –options for differentiation –coverage of (relation to) curriculum goals (examination requirements) –instruction and didactics (pedagogy) –costs –visual impression of the material –target group Important: –role of ICT –tests (evaluation) –user experiences of colleagues –short description of the contents –long description of the contents (2 a4) Not (so) important: –availability –required educational time –studies to comparisons between methods –table of contents –bibliographic information –reviews of third parties (such as journals) –market share of the method

Of most importance when selecting flexible learning materials POVOPO/VO adaptebility73%79%77% availability64%69%68% costs46%32%36% look and feel32%23%25%

Questions? More information: