Writing material for educational courses

Principle 6Education, not just information

Glenn MartinMarch 2017

Principle 6 The aim of an educational course is for

students to appropriate, understand and internalise the concepts and facts, not simply for the writer/teacher to deliver information.

Education or information?A fundamental question for teachers and designers of courses: “What is the difference between training/

education and the delivery of information?”

Delivery of information Effective delivery/presentation of

information is like a good book – it presents material:

• logically• developmentally• lucidly• comprehensively.

Education offers…. What more does education or training

offer?

It has the following aspects built into the design and delivery of a course.

1. Cues for the student Cues for the student to consider and

reflect on what is being said.

2. Exercises or activities Exercises or activities for students to build

or test out their knowledge and understanding of the course content.

3. Feedback to students Feedback to students on their engagement

with the course content, such as feedback on exercises carried out.

4. Students can develop views

Opportunities for students to develop their own views in subject areas that involve human perspectives and values.

5. Engagement with others Opportunities for students to engage with

the teacher and each other in relation to the course content.

6. Assessment of learning Assessment of what students have

learned, which may be informal and/or formal.