How Many Resources and Materials Does Your Class Need?

An online instructor typically receives a course syllabus and an assigned textbook as the required materials for facilitation of a class.

There may be additional books, supplemental websites, and relevant articles included with the initial course materials provided. As an instructor, how do you decide that you have been given enough materials to effectively facilitate the process of learning in your class? Do you rely upon only these materials for your class, knowing that a curriculum developer was responsible for putting them together? While most pre-programmed materials offer an excellent instructional base, instructors often find that the inclusion of additional resources is necessary to help students connect with the course topics.

It is expected that instructors will bring the course materials to life during class discussions when they add their own knowledge, experience, and real-world examples. During those discussions they will be able to assess how students are interacting with materials and analyzing the core concepts.

Supplemental resources such as articles, website links, or videos may be provided a means of furthering students' understanding of the information and application of the course topics to real-world settings. When an instructor considers additional resources it is important to evaluate the source and credibility of the information added to the class. For example, a peer-reviewed article would be considered a credible source of information.
In addition, a website that can be evaluated based upon such criteria as the author's credentials may be considered for inclusion in the class.
Another resource that instructors may consider utilizing as a means of enhancing the knowledge creation process is the development of their own overviews and summaries.

In a traditional classroom, instructors have an opportunity to provide a lecture, which allows them to deliver information and materials directly to the students. Within an online classroom environment, students are expected to find the materials and then demonstrate that they are able to interact effectively with that information.

The lecture-based approach to classroom facilitation can be adapted to the online classroom through the use of messages posted by the instructor.

An overview or preview message can help students look ahead at the upcoming week and the materials that will be covered.

The instructor can offer tips, pointers, and suggestions to help prepare students to interact with those materials. After the class week has concluded, instructors can provide a summary or wrap-up that helps students reflect upon the previous week. This message could include key points discussed in the discussion boards and important topics that students should be familiar with from the assigned readings and materials. For an online classroom, the instructor and students are given materials necessary to begin the class.
As the class progresses and students interact with these materials, instructors are likely to find that the inclusion of additional resources will assist the process of learning by leading students to a deeper understanding of the course topics. These resources may include credible information from outside sources or postings developed by the instructor. The number of resources and materials needed for a class can only be addressed from a developmental perspective and the needs of the students.