Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Choosing and using teaching and
learning materials
- Premises
- There are five basic premises that
underlie selecting and providing access to
books, films, computer software, online
resources, videos and other learning
materials in preschools and school
- The right to freedom of expression
- The child shall have the right to
freedom of expression; this right
shall include freedom to seek,
receive and impart information and
ideas of all kinds, regardless of
frontiers, either orally, in writing or
in print, in the form of art, or
through any other media of the
child’s choice
- Duty of car
- At the same time, however,
preschools and schools have a
guardian role, whereby ‘… the best
interests of the child shall be the
guiding principle of those
responsible for his/her education
and guidance
- Safe and secure environment
- Preschools and schools also
have an obligation to provide a
regulated and protected
environment, shielding children
‘… from practices which may
foster racial, religious or any
other form of discriminatio
- Rights of parents and caregiver
- Parents and caregivers have the
right to make decisions regarding the
learning materials their children use
within the curriculum and to object
to the use of materials they consider
offensive.
- Balance and sensitivity
- preschools and schools should consider society’s
relative lack of censorship for adults which may or
may not have an impact on children’s and
students’experiences outside the preschool or
school environment. To prepare children and
students adequately to make balanced decisions as
to what they read or view in adult life is a function
of the preschool and school environment. The
intention is to develop mature readers and viewers
who are able to use critical frameworks for
selecting, with discernment, material for
informational and recreational use..
- Roles and responsibilities
- Preschools and schools will develop and implement a
process for the selection of teaching and learning
materials2 and providing access to them. This process
should cover all teaching and learning materials used
within the preschool or school curriculum.
Development and implementation of the process
should take into account the following requirements
- It is the director’s or principal’s
responsibility to work
collaboratively with the governing
council to develop the process,
within the framework of the
department’s guidelines statement
and informed by other relevant
department policies and guidelines
- The process will be an integral part of the
preschool or school curriculum planning
and curriculum selection processes and will
be supported by relevant learning and
development programs for staff. A trained
teacher-librarian is well-placed to assist in
these programs. Schools and preschools
without one may choose to contact a trained
teacher-librarian in another school.
- • The teacher-librarian, resource centre
manager or the educator responsible
for the library or resource centre
should be aware of the curriculum
undertaken within the preschool or
school and the appropriate teaching
and learning materials that support it.
- Director shares
responsibility in
the process
including:
- providing access to
appropriate and relevant
learning materials for all
children and students
- where relevant,
providing wider access
to learning materials
than is possible within
the preschool or school
- ensuring that parents and caregivers and
children and students have access to
relevant information about the process
- Principles for
selection and access
- Teaching and learning
materials, whether
purchased or donated,
should be selected and
accessed in ways which
ensure they:
- • provide opportunities for
children and students to find, use,
evaluate and present information
and to develop the critical
capacities to make discerning
choices, so that they are prepared
for exercising their freedom of
access, with discrimination, as
informed and skilled adults
- motivate children, students and
educators to examine their own
attitudes and behaviour and to
comprehend their duties,
responsibilities, rights and
privileges as citizens in our
society
- support an inclusive curriculum,
thus helping children and
students to gain an awareness of
our pluralistic society and the
importance of respectful
relations with others
- • provide opportunities for
children and students to find,
use, evaluate and present
information and to develop the
critical capacities to make
discerning choices, so that they
are prepared for exercising their
freedom of access, with
discrimination, as informed and
skilled adults
- Selecting and reviewing materials
- In developing and
implementing a process for
the selection of teaching
and learning materials and
providing access to them,
education communities
should be informed by the
premises and the
principles for selection and
access detailed in these
guidelines. They should
also consider the following:
- The preschool’s or school’s principles of
selection and access
- The range of perspectives informing the
criteria for selection
- The expertise available within the
preschool or school to support the
selection of materials
- The criteria for selection; for example
- educational value
within the context of the
learning program
- consistency with
department policies
and guideline
- consistency with
other preschool or
school policies
- physical quality and
suitability of materials
- vThe person, or persons,
who will make the
selection.
- The review procedures
which are in place for
responding to changes in
preschool, school or
department policies, parent
or caregiver concerns, new
legislation, the obsolescence
of some materials, and the
development of new
materials and new media.
- Appropriate use of films,
videos, DVDs and
computer-mediated
resource
- RC Unsuitable for a
minor under 18 years
to see or play
- MA (15+)
Unsuitable for
persons under 15
years
- • M (15+) Not
recommended for
persons under
- G (8+) Not
recommended
for persons
under 8 years
- G All other
computer games.
- Online resources
- online resources require
educators to ensure that
children and students are
afforded the same
appropriate freedoms,
guidance and protection as
relate to other teaching and
learning materials
- There are risks for
users of online
services. These
include:
- • encountering
e-mail or bulletin
board messages that
are harassing or
demeaning
- exposure to
inappropriate
material of a sexual
or violent nature
- schools have a duty
of care to prevent
and/or reduce these
risks by using the
techniques next
- Computer
monitors
should be
located in a
visible place.
- An ‘acceptable use’
agreement reinforces to
children and students
the type of behaviour
that is appropriate while
using the Internet
- The preschool or school behaviour
management policy and the
anti-harassment policy need to address
behaviour on the Internet, and put in
place consequences for children and
students misusing their online privileges