As a primary teacher, I have also found that resources for children are
often a great starting point for enhancing your own understanding of a
topic. The information they contain offers a basic outline, and you can
then take it on from there as you wish, as Martin Bazley comments.
I agree with Emma Willson that the use of illustrations/images are also
beneficial for adults - there is a tendency to forget the different ways
in which people learn and there can often be an over-reliance on the the
use of large chunks of text. I think this is a particular issue for
publishing learning resources on the internet. From a personal point of
view, if I see sites with large amounts of text, I am less likely to
stop and look at them than if there are supporting pictures, activities,
links, etc. If I want to learn by reading, I'll find a book. Using the
internet as a medium for learning should provide resources which
complement, or provide an alternative to, more 'traditional' sources of
information.
I also agree with Jocelyn Goddard's comment about the difficulties of
providing materials which address the particular needs of learners.
Providing age-apropriate materials for learners of all types is
certainly something which needs consideration.
Sarah Ferrier
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Education Officer
East Midlands Oral History Archive
Centre for Urban History
University of Leicester
5 Salisbury Road
LEICESTER
LE1 7RH
EMOHA website:
http://www.le.ac.uk/emoha
tel: (0116) 252 5065
email: [log in to unmask]
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