FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN CONSTRUCTING AN EFFECTIVE IM’S As a Teacher, I am aware that my students are unique individuals and there are important factors to be considered in constructing an effective instructional material. Here are the factors; diverse user interests, abilities, backgrounds, cultures, languages, and maturity levels. Materials intended for student use should be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, social development, ability levels, special needs, and learning styles of students served by the collection. The Materials to be selected should support, enrich and extend the school’s curriculum and to encourage informational, educational and recreational reading, viewing and/or listening. THE IMPORTANCE OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS Well, we all know that Teachers at all levels utilize a variety of instructional materials such as textbooks, presentations and handouts to enhance the quality of their lessons. The quality of those materials directly impacts the quality of teaching. Knowing how to find the best instructional materials is a valuable skill for a teacher to have. The importance of Instructional Materials or Educational resources is to improve students’ knowledge, abilities, and skills, to monitor their assimilation of information, and to contribute to their overall development and upbringing. It also clarifies important concepts to arouse and sustain student’s interests, give all students in a class the opportunity to share experiences necessary for new learning, help make learning more permanent. CRITERIA FOR EVALAUTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS Criteria’s for evaluating instructional materials is very important to make teaching effective and meaningful, here are some criteria’s: Content Aligns with curriculum and standards, and is current, valid and reliable, with real world examples. Design to meet the interest of the individual learners from various skills levels. Enhances conceptual understanding and engages higher order thinking skills. Free from bias. Equity and Accessibility Materials are durable, easily stored, transported and are universally accessible. Materials are easily updated and are adaptable and customizable to match the resources of the school. Appropriateness Materials are appropriate for the subject matter, and also appropriate for the learner’s capacity or levels of learning. Presentation Comprehensiveness of student and teacher resources; alignment of instructional components; organization of instructional materials; readability of instructional materials; pacing of content; ease of use and durability of materials. Learning Motivational strategies; teaching a few "Big Ideas;" explicit instruction; guidance and support; active participation of students; targeted instructional strategies; targeted assessment strategies. Cost The materials used for teaching should not be expensive, as long as it eye captivating and catches the attention of the students then it is an effective instructional materials. EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY Educational technology, sometimes termed EdTech or Learning Technology, is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources. The term educational technology is often associated with, and encompasses, instructional theory and learning theory. As an academic discipline, the study of educational technology prepares individuals by helping them acquire a deeper understanding and mastery of: learning resources: messages, people, materials, devices, techniques and settings; processes for analyzing and devising solutions to those problems through research, theory, design, production, evaluation, utilization; the processes involved in organization and personnel management. The focus is on effective processes to facilitate learning using technologies and understanding the impacts of technology on learners and organizations. Areas of specialization may include distance learning, human performance technology, technology integration and management, media design and development, learning sciences, instructional design, change management, and communications processes. It should be noted that the field is not merely concerned with learning technical skills nor the simplistic use of technology for technology’s sake in teaching, a common misperception by non-educators. Practitioners in the field typically hold an advanced degree, Master's or doctorate. Technology in education is most simply and comfortably defined as an array of tools that might prove helpful in advancing student learning and may be measured on how and why individuals behave. As a field, educational technology emphasizes communication skills and approaches to teaching and learning through the judicious use and integration of diverse media. Scholars in the field examine the uses of innovative media and technologies for education, examining all aspects from direct student learning to management and impacts on institutions. As in all forms of applied technology, the field studies how theoretical knowledge and scientific principles can be applied to problems that arise in a social context. Practitioners in educational technology seek new and effective ways of organizing the teaching and learning process through the best possible application of technological developments. These activities rely upon a body of knowledge for successful and ethical implementation, rather than routine tasks or isolated technical skills. TEACHER IS THE BEST INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL Teaching is a total package; it is true that teacher is the best instructional material because teacher is the one who manage the classroom. As the saying goes “you are the captain of your mind and the master of your soul” teacher is the captain of the classroom because of molding the minds of the students to become competent and independent individuals when it comes to excellence. Master of the classroom because of proving good feedback and developing the potential of the students through nurturing their minds for the possibilities in life. Using strategies or techniques that are varied to make teaching effective and meaningful is also a big factor for the students so that they can build confidence and have mastery of the subject matter.