Material Detail

This repository of various materials would fit well in the category of “Reference Material” rather than under “Open Textbook.” It does not seem to meet the standards of a textbook. Some pages contain good information that is actually written for the reader of the “handbook.” However, as the authors explain, most of the pages contain materials that were used elsewhere and designed for other audiences. Some pages are empty (e.g., Knowledge and Motivation), and some contain empty sections (e.g., Cognitive Load, Mastery, etc.). Pages have no introductory text explaining what inserted materials are (e.g., slide, video, etc.), and pages contain no instructions for accessing the materials. For example, under Evaluation, images have no description or instructions. Clicking the image downloads silent slide decks that do not contain speaker notes. Without speaker notes, the usefulness of the slides seems to be compromised. The core information is good, and three actions would improve the effectiveness of the materials for the online audience. 1) Place the content in the correct category (reference materials). 2) Provide speaker notes with slides to facilitate use by others. 3) Revise pages for clarity and completeness.