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 and CD resources useful for this particular group on this particular task, but also useful with the same group in other areas of their Key Skill Communication work. It was simply a matter of spending time with the pupils exploring the web sites.

The web sites and the CD were also useful across a range of other groups. Pupils preparing for GCSE English and GCSE Communication Studies were able to make use of the materials in their own topic and project areas. Older pupils working toward A Level English, Drama and Media Studies, or toward GNVQ Advanced Key Skills, were able to gather background information from the web sites and use some of the CD resources for illustrative purposes.

This latter group found the CD material less useful, of course, but the skills of analysing and evaluating the information available on the web and then applying that analysis to other, more specialist products (such as Britannica on CD or academic sites) formed a part of the Advanced Level pupils' ability to investigate independently.

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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