Diseño de Materiales - Week 6 - Coursebook Based Teaching Pt. 1

Introduction: Hello and welcome to Week 6 of the course Diseño de Materiales. In this class we will begin our two week focus on effective use of coursebooks in ELT. We will begin by debating the pro's and con's of coursebook based teaching before reviewing a principled approach for planning and teaching with coursebooks in a responsible and effective way. We will also work together in a Moxie idea generation session to help you get started with your paper.

Today's Goals:

• Debate the pros and cons of using a coursebook as the primary didactic material in an ELT program and compare your arguements with ones made in the professional literature.
• Review a planning framework for working with coursebooks in a professionally responsible way.
• Collaborate with your peers to generate possible ideas to explore in your Moxie paper.

Guiding Questions:

• What are the arguments in favor and against using a coursebook as the primary didactic material in an ELT program?
• What principles or frameworks can help teachers make better decisions about how to use coursebook materials?

Task 1: Mini-Debates

In this task you will compete with your partners in three mini-debate tasks. For each round, two students will be the debators and one will be the time-keeper and judge. Here are the steps to follow. 

• The judge spins the wheel to choose a topic.
• The judge decides which debator is in favor or against the topic.
• The first debator speaks for 45 seconds.
• The second debator speaks for 45 seconds.
• The judge chooses the winner by saying who gave the most convincing argument.

• Then switch roles and play another round. 

Task 2: Pros and Cons of Coursebook Based Teaching

In this activity, you will have a class debate about the pros and cons of coursebook based language teaching. Students in favor will have two minutes to speak. Students against will have two minutes to reply. Then there will be a final two minute period for open discussion. During this time, judges will take notes of the arguments. 

• Judge Notes: CLICK HERE

Task 3: What does the literature say?

Take a moment to review some of the arguments from the professional literature about the dominating influence of coursebook based methodologies in ELT. Use the highlight function to mark any of the ideas that came up in your debate.

• Professional Arguements: CLICK HERE

Task 4: Moxie Peer Input Session

Your final Moxie paper is due on November 16th. Take advantage of this time to share your ideas with your peers and professor and get some feedback and suggestions of potential aspects to address and explore. For homework you completed the "Moxie Brainstorming and Planning Worksheet". Take a few minutes to share two of your "core ideas" from the Planning and Outlining section of the document. Take notes of ideas your peers give you.

• Umbrella Topic: Differentiated Instruction with Digital Learning Materials
• Guiding Question: How can you leverage digital technologies to create flexible learning materials that provide students with a differentiated learning experience?

• Core Idea 1: What is your key idea?
• Significance: Why is this idea interesting to you?
• Branching Ideas: What are some components, questions, and branching ideas?

• Core Idea 2: What is your key idea?
• Significance: Why is this idea interesting to you?
• Branching Ideas: What are some components, questions, and branching ideas?

• Next Steps: What research do you still need to do?

References:

McGrath, I. (2016). Materials Evaluation and Design for Language Teaching (2nd ed.). Edinburgh University Press. 

Ur, P. (1991). A Course in Language Teaching. Cambridge University Press.