WHAT IS RADIO INSTRUCTION?

WHAT IS RADIO INSTRUCTION? Radio instruction is a method of teaching in which a radio broadcast guides a teacher and learners through the activities of a lesson. It can also be called interactive radio instruction (IRI). It is an external teaching element, delivered by a distant teacher through the medium of radio or audio cassette, is carefully integrated with classroom activities carried out by the classroom teacher and learners. Within this structure, the distant teacher carries the main weight of the teaching and directs learning and activities (such as exercises, answers to questions, songs and practical tasks) that take place during carefully timed pauses in the audio script. While listening to the radio, learners positively participate in the lesson by singing, reading, writing, answering questions and solving problems in ways that ensure active learning. It is an active teaching method designed to make learning fun. Learners sing, play games, answer questions, read and solve mathematics problems in ways that ensure learners participitate actively in the learning. Radio instructions are the use of radio to bring curriculum and teacher training to classroom. it is a tremendous resources for learning and dissemination. Interactive radio instruction, the classroom. It which only requires a radio and adult facilitator, reaches large numbers of teachers and learners who are isolated by distance and poor infrastructure. It can be used in almost any setting, from formal classroom to community learning centers to outdoors venues. It has been found to have significant impact on improving student learning gains. The evaluation students have indicated radio instruction has an impact on the comprehension and speaking skill as well as the mathematics and social science knowledge. It is a typical one way technology tool for active learning inside and outside of the classroom continues to be an attractive educational strategy in developing countries twenty five years after it was first used. Advantages of radio instruction 1. radio instruction allowed different forms of delivering these audio programs which includes cd players and mp3 players 2. it gets learners through the process of activities related to measurable learning objectives 3. it has helped in rebuild and revitalize education programs in some of the least developed countries. 4. The agency for international development has shown that radio is more cost effect size than textbook or teacher education. 5. It has the abilities of teaching subjects in which classroom teachers are deficient or untrained. 6. It provides instruction for one group of students while the teacher works with another group. 7. Radio instruction also brings new or unavailable resources into the classroom. 8. It improves educational quality and relevance 9. It improves access to educational inputs particularly to disadvantaged groups. 10. It helps in lowering educational cost, that is the cost of radios as well as unit production cost are relatively low. 11. It can be used to fulfill certain teaching functions, i.e. to motivate learners and increase interest in specific topics and it has proven its worth as far as pedagogical importance is concerned. 12. It can be used in combination with other media such as print, face -to –face teaching, e.t.c. 13. Radio programmes can benefit weather students when used as a supplementary tool. 14. It can bring previously unavailable resources to students. Disadvantages of radio instruction 1. It makes the instruction feedback and clarification generally unavailable. 2. The instruction is uninterruptible and not reviewable. 3. The pace of the lesson is fixed for all students. 4. It makes note –taking very difficult and also time for reflection of the content or topic is minimal. 5. Most broadcasters changes for airtime these days regardless of the fact that it is for educational purpose. 6. Students have no control over the pace and time of broadcasts and lack of visuals can be problematic. 7. There is normally a lack of skilled professionals who can produce high quality educational radio programmes. 8. Facilities for recording and broadcasting programmes are not readily available or of the desired standard and there is normally competition for studio facilities or broadcasting slots. 9. Receptions can be poor in some areas and it is sometimes necessary to broadcast on more than one station in order to achieve national coverage. PROJECTED MEDIA Projected media are those tools that is map out for the use in channeling communication for effective learning of the student. Project media can be classified according to the projected and non-projected. Projected media include 1. Video tape recorder/players 2. Television 3. Over head transparencies 4. Slide 5. Duplication machine 6. Film strips 7. Photo copier 8. Power point 9. Interactive smart board 10. Video camera NON PROJECTED INCLUDE 1. Posters 2. Cartoons 3. Charts 4. Pictures 5. Graphs 6. Drawing 7. Diagrams/sketches 8. Flash-cards 9. Magazines/news papper 10. Textbooks