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 short exercises useful for her year ten group, but also for other (younger) groups with whom she wanted to develop the writing skills from scratch. She also found the map-based exercise, the house description exercise and the letter writing exercise could be 'drawn out' of the package and used on a stand-alone basis with a range of groups. In your case, the CD-ROM obviously has a dedicated range of applications beyond the writing package. There is material dedicated to development of other writing skills, as well as material on Shakespeare and other poets.

In your consideration of the question of adaptation, you should think only of adapting the writing material we have discussed - this will make the exercise more realistic. Most of the time when you use an ICT resource - say, in the use of a CD-ROM encyclopædia or a dedicated piece of courseware - you will find that you have to bend it a little to make it more widely useful.

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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