IMPORTANCE OF THE VARIOUS CHARACTERISTICS OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS: DIFFERENT OPINIONS, DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

The article addresses the issues related to the use and evaluation of educational materials during the teaching process and independent learning. The first part defines the didactic function of educational materials, placing particular emphasis on the optimum explicitness of the educational contents under discussion, the improved rationalization and efficiency of the organization of the teaching process, and increasing students’ activity during school instruction and independent learning. The authors argue that the selection of educational materials is influenced by a variety of factors, including educational goals, the educational contents under discussion, the developmental characteristics of learners and, last but not least, the design and availability of educational materials. They also discuss some of the main criteria according to which the didactic quality of educational materials can be assessed.

The second part of the article presents the findings of the empirical research study conducted in Slovenia in 2010 and 2011. The research – which consisted of a random sample of 370 teachers and 552 students of three selected and reformed educational programs of vocational education and training – studied the importance that the teachers and students attach to the structural and content characteristics of the educational materials they work with during school instruction and learning.