In contrast to didactic teacher-centered classroom methodologies, “experiential education” encourages or enables students to become actively involved in learning. Although sources of data—and the forms of skills practice—may not make a crucial difference, variety helps. That’s because individuals can differ in their “primary learning styles,” the modes of receiving or processing stimuli that seem to work best for them. Using materials and techniques that involve various senses (hearing, sight, touch, etc.); that appeal to auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and/or tactile preferences; and that take into account more than one way of thinking make pedagogy and activities more appealing.
Because it provides surprise as well as a change of pace, variety also keeps instruction and self-study from becoming tedious. Participants are less likely to tune out or use “boredom” as an excuse for not learning effectively. Here are some categories of product formats that can “work optimally” for various educational purposes, in lessons for individuals to large groups, in small or large doses, some or all of the time, in short– or long-term study sessions, and in just about any specific—or combination of—teaching/learning situations.
- Practical (rather than theoretical) student textbooks not only “tell” book users what they need to know but also direct them in how to make good use of that knowledge. Their sections tend to begin with pedagogical explanations and examples, offer controlled exercises to illustrate salient points, move to communicative or expressive practice, and end with summaries and beyond-the-text suggestions. Workbooks may function similarly. Manuals that target specific sub-skills like pronunciation, spelling, or vocabulary tend to contain mostly tasks to complete, get feedback on, and use for review until mastery.
- Print products—especially tear-off sheet pads and reproducible blackline masters—may be “written to the page.” This means that their lessons can probably be completed in a predictable length of time. Their material can be conveniently downloaded and/or photocopied. It can be distributed to individuals or learning groups, handed in to instructors for correction or comment, and filed for review purposes later on.
- Some language-learning materials can be enhanced by ancillaries. For example, CDs/DVDs are likely to accompany oral language worktexts with sections that are best read aloud by native speakers (if available) or heard in an audio format. Some books or packages may include answer keys. Instructors’ guides or teachers’ manuals are available for most traditional texts.
- Educational card packs, path-boards, and other game materials rarely fail to engage students and motivate learning. These usually include instructions for use.
Instead of simply prescribing limited instructions for use, the Activity & Idea Books that accompany Authors & Editors' Card-Packs and Game-Board Sets not only “teach teachers” relevant pedagogical content but also offer a plethora of innovative beyond-the-materials concepts and activity ideas. In addition to illustrated Answer Keys, they might also display Reference Charts--and offer pages of exercises and tests to reproduce for distribution to individuals.
For background on language-education products from various points of view--Products in Multiple Formats & Media, Language Focus (Simple to Complex), Learner Proficiency Levels, Language Skills (Reading & Writing, Listening & Speaking, Grammar), and Educational Content & Culture, click to see any of the articles listed in the Pulldown Menu under "What's Available."
An Alphabetized Product List will give you an overview of books, games, and ancillaries available for purchase from Authors & Editors.
The items in the Authors & Editors Online Store can be organized into these categories of products: Activity & Idea Books; Alphabet Letters & Symbols, Answer Key; Self-Teaching; Audio Tapes/CD's/DVD's; Board Games; Books for Students; Cards or Card Decks; Classroom-Ready Materials; Content & Culture; Grammar/Sentence Structure; Instructors' Guides/Teachers' Editions; Integrated or Multiple Language Skills; Language Learning Levels: Ba = Basic (Literacy) Level; Language Learning Levels: Be = Beginning Level; Language Learning Levels: I = Intermediate Level; Language Learning Levels: A = Advanced Level; Oral Language Skills = Listening & Speaking; Phonics & Spelling; Phrasing/Paraphrasing; Pronunciation & Accent Acquisition; Reproducible Masters; Resource Books for Teachers/Learners; Vocabulary, Focus on; Word Level Skills; Written Language Skills = Reading & Writing
The Online Authors & Editors Creative Language Teaching & Learning Catalog offers detailed info about products in this order: Pre-Word, Word Level, Phrases & Sentences, Grammar & Structure, Oral Language, Written Language, Integrated Skills, Teaching/Learning Resources, Content & Culture.
