c. Adapting the Resources for Different Learners or Work

This part of the case study follows from what has just been said about evaluation of resources. If a piece of software, a World Wide Web site or a dedicated piece of courseware can be used for more than one group of learners or across more than one area of work, it follows that it is more valuable to you in your work. In the case study, the teacher found the web sites useful for a range of groups on this image-related tasks, but also useful with the same groups in other areas of their Design and Technology work. It was simply a matter of spending time with the pupils exploring the web sites.

The web sites and the CD are also useful across a range of age and ability groups. Pupils preparing for GCSE in related areas in Design and Technology are able to use the sites in the way described here, but also to get information to form the basis of project and research work.

At higher levels, and with more design-able students, the web sites can themselves be seen as designed products, so that evaluation and analysis can be encouraged in relation to the focus of investigation. These latter groups will find the Encarta CD less useful, of course, but the skill of analysing and evaluating the form and content of information available and then applying that analysis to other, more specialist products is a critical skill in design.

With this in mind, think about how you would complete the grid on the following page, and discuss it with your mentor.

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