ICoach 2024-2025 Post 10: Instructional Materials Rubric Review

by Emily Rozmus 2 months, 3 weeks ago
  1. Use the INFOhio website grade bands to find the resources to support your grades/subjects. 
  2. Apply the Instructional Materials Rubric to an INFOhio resource you would like to use to supplement a lesson. What are the resource's strong points? What could be improved? 
Michael Lamp 3 weeks, 6 days ago

I decided to apply the Instructional Materials Rubric to the INFOhio resource "Explora," specifically in the context of the "Challenging Confirmation Bias" lesson that I used in one of the earlier discussion prompts. 

Explora excels in usability, featuring an intuitive interface that allows students to easily navigate and find relevant content. The search functionality is user-friendly, and resources are organized by grade level and subject, making it accessible for diverse learners. Additionally, it aligns well with educational standards and supports critical thinking and media literacy, both essential for understanding and challenging confirmation bias. The variety of resource types, including articles, images, and videos, caters to different learning styles, ensuring that all students can engage meaningfully.

However, there is room for improvement in flexibility and adaptability. While Explora offers a robust selection of resources, it could benefit from more customizable features, like creating personalized collections or modifying content to better fit specific lesson plans. Additionally, incorporating explicit instructional strategies or guidance on effectively using the resources in lessons about confirmation bias would enhance the overall learning experience. By addressing these areas, Explora could further support educators in fostering critical thinking skills and navigating information effectively in the digital age.