Topic 10 Notes: USE OF RESOURCES IN MULTI-MEDIA CENTRES
A Multimedia centre or an educational resource center is a place where a collection of teaching
and learning materials are selected, organized, evaluated, used and stored. The term resource
here means the materials teachers and learners use to help promote or improve teaching and
learning.
Types of resources within the multimedia centre
The resources in multimedia centres according to Barot, E.A (2013) are categorized into:
i. Library Resources. Textbooks, Refereces, Encyclopaedias, Newspapers, Educational
Magazines, Periodicals and Journals.
ii. Hardware facilities. Overhead projector, LCD projector, Slide Projector, Microscopes,
Television, videocassette player, Tape Recorder, Radio, Computers – monitors CPU’s
Printers, Scanners
iii. Software resources. Maps, Charts, Photos, Posters, Microfilms, Slides, Cassettes –
Audio, video, Filmstrips, 16 mm Films, OHP Transparencies
iv. Teaching – Learning materials. Different types of boards – magnetic board, Peg board,
Bulletin board etc. Specimens in biology museum teaching aids of all subjects
improvised apparatus multi – media packages.
Functions of Multimedia Centre:
Barot, E.A (2013) states the functions of Multimedia Centres as following:
i. To provide means to integrate educational technology into the curriculum
ii. To create classroom applications those are learner centered and that support high
curriculum standard for all students.
iii. To provide students with a working knowledge of technological world.
iv. To develop an understanding of and capability to handle tools. Materials and processes
integral to technological systems such as communication, production, power/ energy and
transportation systems.
v. To teach students to apply the knowledge, tools and skills in designing, constructing and
evaluating solutions to real world technical problems.
vi. To facilitate design and fabricate teaching-learning material and application software
need for classroom teaching.
vii. To select, acquire, purchase and store resources for the instructional resource Centre.
viii. To classify and index material for easy retrieval and condemning outdated and redundant
material
Benefits of the establishment of a multimedia centre
Open for use by learners, teachers and other members of the community.
Benefits to teachers
It is used to meet specific needs of the teacher in the following ways:
i. Obtaining up to date information on locally available teaching materials
ii. Locating and scheduling needed materials from local and remote distributors
iii. In arranging for pre-use examination of materials.
iv. It helps in arranging for optimum conditions for learning when specific media are used
e.g. dark room for video, slides, etc.
v. Learning how to operate media equipment as well as obtaining the assistance of trained
equipment operators whenever required.
vi. Avoid conflict with the plans of other teachers for use of the same equipment
vii. Obtaining supplies of equipment for personal preparation
viii. Planning for equipment installation in learning areas such as libraries, lecture halls and so
on for both generalized and specialized uses
ix. New teachers gain confidence when planning their lessons hence their individual needs
are catered for.
Benefits to students
Multimedia activities encourage students to work in groups, express their knowledge in multiple
ways, solve problems, revise their own work, and construct knowledge. Participation in
multimedia activities, satisfy educational needs of the learners in the following ways:
i. It provides a breakaway conventional formal lessons towards more independent learning
directed by a wide range of creative assignments on relevant topics
ii. It helps increase motivation through the variation of subject matter as well as resources
iii. It allows the learners to progress at their own pace
iv. It provides a shift from emphasis from teacher dominance to independence of the learner
v. It helps the learners to develop self-reliance and personal research capabilities (problem
solving skills)
vi. The learners are able to find a wide range of teaching and learning materials in an
organized manner.
Factors to Consider when Planning for a Learning Resource Centre
1. Funding/finances
2. Space – for reading, library
3. Staffing of the multimedia centre – different personnel who should be at different skill levels;
professional and supportive
4. People’s attitudes and priorities within the communities e.g. the may have wanted a bus.
5. Community politics and policies– you should identify people’s needs and make it relevant.
6. Identify the curriculum around which the center is to be built – look at the broad national goals
of education and it should inform the multimedia center
7. It should be able to consider the rules and regulations that govern the day-to-day learning of
the multimedia center – labeling and cataloguing, borrowing, keeping inventories and so on…
8. It should be able to develop an evaluation criterion that helps gauge the success of the center
9. Focus on a comprehensive center programme which includes priorities for the next 4 to 5
years.
Advantages of Multimedia Centres to Teachers
i. Enables teachers to turn teacher-centered lessons into student-centered.
ii. Provides teachers with more opportunities to be facilitator.
iii. Easily adaptable to all learning levels.
iv. Decreases classroom management issues.
v. Provides opportunities for students to have a 'real' audience.
vi. Places onus of responsibility back on the student.
vii. Allows teachers to deal with photocopying limitations.
viii. Provides a forum for teacher sharing and feedback
Advantages of Multimedia Centres for Students:
i. Engaging and motivating.
ii. Provides opportunities to try new things.
iii. Incorporates additional useful skills into the curriculum.
iv. Heightens project-based learning opportunities.
v. Provides classroom accessibility outside the classroom.
vi. Benefits audio/visual learners.
vii. Appealing and manageable to students with special needs and at-risk students.
viii. Allows for showcase of student work.
Advantages of Multimedia Centre for Parents
ix. Enables parents to monitor homework and upcoming assignments.
x. Helps parents feel more connected.
xi. Offers parent a place to view student's work