Every single job needs resources and support for a very successful application. Teaching English is one of those and since many years ago it has been updating. First of all, what is Didactic Resources? According to Oscar García Marchena this can be defined as: “Resources are any instruments that help us to achieve any goal; that is, auxiliar material with which the pupils develop the learning process.” (García, 1996). Based on this information people can have an idea or access of how and which didactic resources can be used in Teaching English.
What do we think when we say “Didactic Resources?” a lot of materials such as markers, chalks, blackboard, sheets of paper, eraser, and many other equipment that personally I would think about it specially for elementary school. However its use is even most common during High school and hardly it changes. The didactic resources are the tool number one for teachers and even learners due to it makes the teaching-learning process even easier to instruct and obviously, to understand. The opportunity to get access to didactic resources is unlimited since we can find innovated ideas on the internet and even in our own house! Just give a try and see how your class can change a little bit the routine, remember: students love new things and new activities catch their attention!
Anything can be a didactic resource just as Oscar García explains in his essay: “(…) the crucial element is the word, (…) simplest didactic resources for TEFL are real objects, (…) People are also a basic resource (…)” (García, 1996). Many things can help teachers for innovating the class, but also it is relevant the correct use of them in order to be very productive and to have positive consequences on students. Nowadays with the technological era, teachers can take into account “Technological Resources” which can be defined as: “(…) practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources.” (Wikipedia, Educational Technology) as a result, Computers, Televisions, Radios, Internet, Over Head Projector, Power Point Presentations, Prezi, and Interactive Presentations are part of these technological resources. All these instruments help and provide advantages for teaching process. They make the work easier, but they should not do all the work for you! Remember that materials are just instruments and the teacher is just a mediator between the student-resources interaction.
On the other hand, there are also the “Pre-technological Resources ”are those which not necessarily need any technological device or equipment for its function, and most of the time they are the main supplies of a teacher. Such instruments can be scissors, chalk, blackboard, eraser, markers, flip charts, Notice Boards, sheets of paper, and so on. These instruments are very useful are not just because they are pre-technological, it does not mean that they are not so effective. Remember that a good teacher always have a “Plan B” in his Lesson Planning, so, if you have any trouble with a computer or internet, you can use a pre-technological source.
What else can teachers take into account for using didactic resources? The multiple intelligences theory is a topic that never is going to disappear from teaching field. Every single person has his/her own way to learn as well as learning styles. Take this into consideration is almost a duty for a very good teaching. A professor should know the students, their weaknesses and strengths for improving ones and reinforce others. This is why teachers should be able to “open” doors to technology, didactic resources and methodologies always be updated! Use Visual aids like pictures, the board, Flip charts, Over head Projectors, Television and so on; they will help to the visual learners. Besides, use Audio aids like radio, songs, podcasts, tape recorders, and compact disks for your listening learners. Create forums, blogs, debates, round tables, and everything that comes to your mind for your students!
Always be open to technological and pre-technological didactic resources, since they are the best tool every professor has, just remember to use them correctly, in the correct situation, and with the correct purpose, and everything will be good for you and your students.
Educational technology. (2010, October 4). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21:19, October 4, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Educational_technology&oldid=388730356
García M. Oscar. Didactic Resources for Teaching English.
