LLMD REVIEWER
LLMD REVIEWER
PRINCIPLES OF MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT In conducting a post-use evaluation, we should consider the following
Questions:
Materials Evaluation is a procedure that involves measuring the value (or
1. What new skills or abilities have learners developed as a result of using the
potential value) of a set of learning materials. It involves making judgements about
materials?
the effect of the materials on the people using them and it tries to measure some or
all of the following list (Tomlinson, 2013). 2. In what ways have the materials influenced learners’ confidence levels?
Tomlinson, 2013 3. Did the materials facilitate teachers in effectively covering the syllabus?
The appeal of the materials to the learners
The credibility of the materials to learners, teachers and administrators Tips in evaluating instructional materials for language learning
The validity of the materials The reliability of the materials 1. Alignment of purpose
The ability of the materials to interest the learners and the teachers 2. Capacity of the learners
The ability of the materials to motivate the learners 3. Localization and contextualization
The value of the materials in terms of short-term learning. 4. Physical appearance of the instructional materials
The value of the materials in terms of long-term learning. 5. Challenge for lifelong learning
The learners' perceptions of the value of the materials.
REASONS FOR ADOPTING MATERIALS
The teachers' perceptions of the value of the materials.
Materials adaptation is a general term for the process that involves making changes
The assistance given to the teachers in terms of the preparation, delivery and
to existing materials to better suit specific learners, teachers and contexts for the
assessment.
purpose of facilitating effective learning. This may mean reducing mismatches
The flexibility of the materials (e.g. the extent to which it is easy for a teacher
between materials, learners, teachers and contexts or making fuller use of the
to adapt the materials to suit a particular context).
potential value of existing materials.
The contribution made by the materials to teacher development
Adoption is a process of choosing and accepting a set of materials by someone else
The match with administrative requirements.
based on certain implicit and explicit criteria. Concerned with the whole course
book. Adaptation – refers to modifying certain parts or place of the book to suit a
PRINCIPLES IN MATERIAL EVALUATION
particular class or level. It is a process subsequent to and dependent on adoption.
Materials should achieve impact.
Concerns the parts that make up the whole.
Materials should help learners to feel at ease.
REASONS FOR ADOPTING MATERIALS
Materials should help the learners to develop confidence.
1. Not enough grammar coverage in general and not enough practice of
What is being taught should be perceived by learners as relevant and useful.
grammar points of particular difficulty to the learners in a given context.
Materials should require and facilitate learner self-investment.
Grammar is not presented systematically.
Learners must be ready to acquire the points being taught both in terms of
2. Reading passages contain too much unknown vocabulary.
linguistic, developmental readiness, and of psychological readiness too.
3. Comprehension tasks are too easy or too difficult.
Materials should expose the learners to language in authentic use.
4. Listening passages are inauthentic, because they sound too much like
The learner's attention should be drawn to linguistic features of the input.
written material being read out.
Materials should provide the learners with opportunities to use the target
5. The content is inappropriate for learners, considering their age, cultural
language to achieve communicative purposes (in order to automatize existing background and intellectual level.
procedural knowledge, to check the effectiveness of the existing hypotheses) 6. Amount of material is to great / too little to cover in the time allocated to
lessons.
According to Tomlinson, materials should be:
7. No guidance for teachers on handling group work and role play activities
Help the learner to develop cultural awareness and sensitivity.
with a large class
Reflect the reality of language use.
8. Dialogues are too formal and not really representative of everyday
Help learners to learn in ways similar to the circumstances in which they will
speech.
have to use the language.
9. Audio material is difficult to use because of problems to do with room
Achieve affective engagement
size and technical equipment.
Help to create readiness to learn.
10. Too much or too little variety in activities
According to Richards, materials should be:
Principles In Adapting Material
Give learners something they can take away from the lesson.
Teach something learners feel they can use.
PRINCIPLE 1: LEARNER-CENTEREDNESS
Give learners a sense of achievement. Learner-centeredness involves tailoring educational materials and teaching methods
Practice learning items in an interesting and novel way. to meet the unique learning styles, needs, and interests of individual students. By
Provide a pleasurable learning experience. focusing on the learner, educators can create more meaningful and effective learning
Provide opportunities for individual practice. experiences.
Provide opportunities for personalization.
Provide opportunities for self-assessment of learning. PRINCIPLE 2: CONTEXTUAL RELEVANCE
Contextual relevance means adapting learning materials to reflect students’ personal
TYPES OF MATERIALS EVALUATION experiences, cultures, and environments. When content is connected to their lives,
students are more likely to stay engaged and understand the material in a meaningful
Evaluating instructional materials is crucial, as it directly impacts language way.
teaching and learning. This complex process involves the teacher’s background and
responsiveness to students’ needs. The evaluation phase, which gathers feedback
PRINCIPLE 3: ALIGNMENT WITH LEARNING OBJECTIVES
from both students and teachers, is essential for continual improvement in teaching
Adapting learning materials should always serve the goal of helping students
and learning practices. achieve the intended learning outcomes. Any changes or modifications made to the
A. TYPES content should support the core objectives of the lesson or unit, ensuring students
1.The external evaluation – conducted to have an overview of the organizational meet the required competencies.
foundation of material.
2. Internal evaluation – refers to an ‘in-depth’ investigation of the materials to find PRINCIPLE 4: DIFFERENTIATION
out how far the claims made by the publisher and authors are justified and whether Differentiation involves modifying content, processes, and assessments to cater to
those claims have been adequately translated into teachable content the different ability levels, learning speeds, and strengths of students in the same
B. TYPES OF MATERIAL (TOMLINSON’S VIEW) classroom. This approach ensures that all students can access the material at their
When is the evaluation carried out? level and work towards success without feeling overwhelmed or under-challenged.
PRINCIPLE 5: INCLUSIVITY Authentic and non-authentic input
Inclusivity means making sure that all students, regardless of their physical, In order to expose the learners to realistic input.
cognitive, or emotional needs, have equal access to learning materials and can fully -Materials should be based on authentic texts
participate in classroom activities. This may involve providing accommodations such In order to draw the learners' attention to certain linguistic features with activities
as assistive technologies, modified texts, or flexible teaching strategies to meet the based on texts selected from authentic sources a
needs of learners with disabilities. -combination of authentic and non-authentic tasks
Provocative topics and tasks
*In order to make learning more engaging and perhaps also more humanistic
PRINCIPLE 6: CLARITY AND SIMPLICITY
• Materials should include topics and activities that can:
Simplifying complex concepts and using clear, straightforward language is crucial,
• potentially provoke a reaction,
especially for younger learners or students with lower proficiency levels. Breaking
• Provide an aesthetic experience, whether it be positive or negative, that is personal
down difficult ideas into manageable pieces helps students focus on understanding
and subjective.
without being overwhelmed by technical jargon or complicated explanations.
Conclusions
the adaptation process is considered at two levels
PRINCIPLE 7: ACTIVE LEARNING - adapting materials with the purpose of making them effective and relevant to a
Active learning engages students in hands-on activities, group discussions, or specific classroom;
problem-solving tasks that encourage them to think critically and apply what they’ve - adapting materials with the purpose of changing their objectives, in order to reduce
learned in practical ways. By transforming passive learning (e.g., lectures) into active the distance between research and classroom practice.
involvement, students retain information better and develop important skills like • Developing critical awareness of learning and teaching is the main aim of adapting
collaboration, analysis, and creativity. and evaluating courses,
• learners can become, the main input providers, the teacher's role is simply that of
PRINCIPLE 8: AUTHENTICITY facilitator, co-ordinator and monitor.
Authenticity involves using real-life situations, examples, or tasks that students can
relate to in their own lives. When students see how the material connects to the real (ISLA&ARADO)
world, they are more likely to engage with it, seeing its relevance beyond the Digital technology has changed how people learn languages. It has made language
classroom. learning easier, more fun, and accessible to many people around the world. With the
help of apps, online classes, and tools like virtual reality or artificial intelligence,
learning a new language is no longer limited to traditional classroom methods.
PRINCIPLE 9: PROGRESSIVE CHALLENGE
Progressive challenge refers to gradually increasing the difficulty of tasks or
activities as students gain more confidence and competence. Starting with simpler These technologies allow learners to study anytime and anywhere, practice at their
tasks allows students to build a strong foundation, while progressively challenging own pace, and get instant feedback. They also provide opportunities to experience
them with more complex tasks keeps them engaged and promotes continuous real-life language use, helping learners improve their skills faster and more
learning. effectively.
PRINCIPLE 10: FEEDBACK AND ASSESSMENT Roles of Technology in Language Learning Development
Regular feedback is essential for helping students identify their strengths and areas
for improvement. By incorporating opportunities for both peer and teacher feedback 1. Providing Authentic Materials
throughout the learning process, students can refine their work, develop a growth Students can access a wide range of authentic materials, such as news articles,
mindset, and continuously improve before final assessment podcasts, videos, and blogs, to learn about real-world language use, accents, and
such.
MATERIAL ADAPTATION
Refers to the application of some strategies to make the textbook more 2. Enhancing Interaction
effective and flexible. The process of changing or adjusting the various parts of Students can interact with their language courses and other speakers of the target
a course book is closely related to the reality of dealing with learners in the language in real-time via video, audio, or text.
dynamic environment of the classroom.
Expert Guidance
Efficient content delivery
Control over learning
Disadvantages of Teacher Centered Approach
Passive Learning
Limited Student Voice
Ignores Individual Differences
Learner-Centered
-students are active participants in the learning process, taking ownership of their
learning and engaging with content in meaningful ways.