In this my final post, I can hardly believe I’ve written as much as I have. I think it’s approaching 15,000 words. It feels quite epic!

The longest post was on sound and vision (video). As I said in that post, I think I had a lot to learn in that area and enjoyed finding out more about it, but also know there’s much more to know. The Goldstein and Driver book is now part of my workbag toolkit.

In terms of what I wanted to achieve from this module at the start, these were my thoughts:

• I want to be better able to review and select material fit for purpose, so it’s best suited to students’ needs and me as a teacher 
• I want to be able to adapt and supplement material more effectively for the same reasons

I’ve certainly achieved this through completing the coursebook and task evaluation tasks with colleagues and the associated readings and posts.  The key message I took away from completing these and listening to the other presenters was that evaluation should follow a process.  That is, it should be systematic and answer the question – does it meet my principles? 

The same applies to adaptation and supplementation.  Although publishers create and we select materials for a target market, adaptation allows us to add value to what is offered, so it can become even more suitable for the precise needs of the students in our context. Principled adaptation should always put the goals of the students first and should also meet our principles. Roll on flexi-materials!

• I want to gain practical skills using different forms of digital technology and examine ways of using it in the classroom. I  particularly want to learn how to exploit video.

I did learn a lot about using digital video and still digital images and believe I’m really going to enjoy using them in the classroom more – I plan to.  With other forms of digital tech. well, I think I probably just scratched the surface, but discovered some fun and easy applications that enhance the learning process. I know much more about them than I did before the course and am far more willing to give them a fair hearing, to evaluate them properly.

• I would like some insight into the design process when creating materials, to inform evaluation and selection and enable self-created supplementation

This was the most challenging part of the module as it brought together pedagogic knowledge synthesised into principles for design of text content, visuals and instructions; desktop publishing skills; sourcing skill; and evaluation skills. It was a challenge but it was achieved.  I have no ambition to pursue materials writing in any serious manner, but can and may well produce a decent worksheet from time to time.

So this is THE END. Time to sign off. I feel compelled to end with an emblematic digital image.