Importance of digital teaching resources?
Digital teaching resources are widely used in educational institutions and these resources are important for the following positive benefits.
Motivating learners
The use of digital teaching resources in classrooms motivates the learners and makes them show more interest and become more involved in their lessons. The use of digital teaching resources like videos, websites, graphics, and educational games makes traditional subjects more interesting as the interest of learners in subjects grows. The multimedia content is a very valuable tool to bring different subjects closer to learners completely and enjoyably. Digital resources are used in face-to-face or online learning to energise teaching and learning.
Makes learning interactive
ICT has enabled the use of innovative teaching resources and the revitalisation of learning methods, establishing more lively interaction of learners with their content, their peers, and their teacher. The use of digital teaching resources in the classroom promotes the learner’s active and participatory attitude, which is involved in learning and is positioned as the protagonist. There is the interaction between the learner and the teacher, the learner and the content, the learner and the teacher through various channels, more spontaneously and less formally.
It is easily used to connect the learners to events and activities outside the school to support their in-class learning; thus it facilitates the opportunity for learner-centred learning. This contrasts with analogue learning where the tutor stands in front of the classroom as the central source of knowledge.
Increased collaboration
Collaboration between learners is enhanced by the use of various digital resources. It is much easier for learners to create team projects, cooperate and learn from one another when using digital resources in school.
Used in teaching difficult subjects
When digital resources are deployed, they stimulate the development of the imagination, as well as the initiative of all class members for better performance. Hence, technology is used to simplify and teach difficult subjects.
Access to up-to-date content
Digital environments allow real-time updating of all information and resources. In addition, it is possible to contextualise digital teaching resources to reflect local and nearby realities; for example, OERs can be repurposed to give local colour to lessons.
The use of digital teaching resources in schools has a positive impact on teaching, learning, and research. Despite the roles digital educational resources can play and the availability of openly licensed course materials, a lot of schools in Nigeria are yet to benefit from them.
The overall aim of using digital teaching resources is to support the learning goals of a curriculum. And as a teacher, you are best suited for selecting educational resources and need to know how to evaluate them to determine if they are relevant to your work.