Tapping and developing material resources

Because material resources are always in short supply, curriculum and materials development is always an issue. As with human resources, two basic questions are:

° How and where can needed materials be procured? and
° How can we mobilize the resources we already have?

These questions and the issues associated with them are dealt with in great detail in the Materials Development and Resource Utilization section of the Manual. One particularly effective way to share materials and techniques among teachers involves the creation of newsletters and material exchange or resource centers. Some of the functions these serve are to:

1. PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS by:

° Opening up a channel through which students and teachers can read and share their own contributions.
° Giving teachers new ideas for lesson planning, creative classroom techniques, etc..
° Encouraging further innovation.

2. PROMOTE A SENSE OF LOCAL IDENTITY AND PRIDE by:

° Disseminating locally-generated knowledge, and
° Providing a means of publicizing local and national issues.

3. RAISE AWARENESS OF EDUCATIONAL ISSUES by:

° Revealing material and curricular discrepancies from region to region, and
° Informing the ministry of educational needs.

Admittedly, these goals are ideal and in many cases simply unattainable. Resistance to innovation often proves to be a mightier force than the greatest enthusiasm. Still, to the extent that these goals are desirable by Volunteers and host country nationals alike, they are worth bearing in mind and pursuing to the extent possible.

ACTIVITY BOX

Does your school currently publish some kind of regular newsletter? If not, what material resources exist at the school with which to publish one?