Unit information: Learning Resources in TESOL in 2014/15

Unit name	Learning Resources in TESOL
Unit code	EDUCM5908
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Woodfield
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Education
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit provides students with the skills needed to critically and systematically evaluate text-based and computer-based learning resources and to plan and develop such resources as effective input for learning in a range of classroom contexts. Students will develop skills in supplementing and adapting learning materials in order to facilitate successful mediation between such materials and diverse groups of language learners and will engage in critical appraisal of resources for learning at both macro and micro levels. Close analysis of a range of tasts will develop a critical approach to the nature of second language learning processes engendered through learner engagement with the materials.

Aims:

• To explore the interface between learning resources, curriculum design and teaching methodologies

• To develop awareness of frameworks for the systematic evaluation of learning resources at macro and micro levels.

• To explore ways in which learning resources may be adapted and supplemented to meet the needs of learners in a variety of contexts of learning.

• To develop awareness of the nature of learning and the cognitive and linguistic demands on the learner generated by different learning resources.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit, students will have developed an understanding of:

• Systematic approaches to evaluating learning resources at macro and micro levels.
• The ways in which learning resources may be adapted and supplemented to meet the needs of learners in a variety of contexts of learning.
• The role of internet resources in self-directed and teacher-directed learning.
• The interface between learning resources, curriculum design, teaching methodology and learning.

By the end of this unit, students will have developed skills in:

• Evaluating learning resources for TESOL at macro and micro levels.
• Designing tasks and materials for learning in principled ways.
• Applying frameworks for analysis to the design of tasks for learning.
• Adapting and supplementing published materials for language learning.

Teaching Information

• Lecture input
• Online learning support (Blackboard)
• Presentations,
• Small group work,
• Seminars or workshops,
• Action research,
• Simulations,
• Individual tutorials and supported self study.

Individualised and supervised studies to include on-line discussion, supervision and directed reading

Assessment Information

Either:

A negotiated assignment of 4,000 (or equivalent) exploring professional aspects of Language Learning Resources informed by both current perspectives in the literature, and the developkment needs of a specific curricular context

Or

An outline proposal of 4,000 words (or equivalent) for an empirical research study addressing a current theoretical or curricular issue in Language Learning Resources, including a focussed literature review, research questions and procedures for data collection and data analysis.

Reading and References

• McDonough, J. and Shaw, C. (2003) Materials and Methods in ELT (2nd Edition). Oxford: Blackwell.

• McGrath, I. 2002. Materials Evaluation and Design for Language Teaching. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

• Richards, J.C. 2001. Curriculum Development in Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Tomlinson, B. (2003) (Ed.) Developing Materials for Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Warschauer, M. and Kern, R. (Eds.) 2000 Network-based Language Teaching: Concepts and Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.