Educational Materials Design and Development (EMDD)

Introduction

EducationalMaterials Design and Development is one among four TIE’s academic Directorates. The directorate has passed through a series ofchanges both in its name and status over the years. It started as a Science Equipment Development Unit (SEDU) under the thenInstitute of Education, and in 1978 the unit was transformed into a department of School Equipment Design and Development (SEDD)under the then Institute of Curriculum Development. The name Educational Materials Design and Development directorate camealong with the changes in the current Tanzania Institute of Education organizational structure adapted in 2010. The operational strategies of the directorate are under the respective director who is directly responsible to the Director General.

Mode of Operation

• EMDD liaise with the Directorate of Research, Information and Publication (RIP) to identify needs for equipment and teaching aids for schools. Selected experts from educational stakeholders meet once a year to discuss and guide EMDD activities. The chairperson of thepanel is a lecturer in Education and Technology from the University of Dar-es- salaam. Others include teachers, tutors and material production experts selected from various institutes around the country.

• EMDD manages an educational materials workshop, invites business community to produce various school equipment and materials and occasionaly runs seminars on the same.

Objectives and Functions of the directorate of  EMDD

The objectives and functions of the directorate of Educational Materials Design and Development are to:

• Design and coordinate the development of educationalmaterials suchasbooks,modules, charts, manuals, guides and electronic materials for schools and teacher’s colleges.
• Provide consultancy services to stakeholders involved in development and production of educational materials.
• Liaise with Centre for Curriculum Training to plan, organize and conduct seminars, courses, workshops and conferences for educationalstakeholders on educational materials design and development.
• Supervise, develop and test educational materials for their suitability for use in schools and teacher’s colleges.
• Set standards to ensure that quality educational materials are developed by different sources for use in schools and teacher’s colleges.
• Liaise with the Directorate of Research, Information and Publication (DRIP) to identify needs for equipment and teaching aids for schools andteachers colleges and certify their qualities.
• Provide facilities to Curriculumexperts to design, develop and produce equipment, chemicals and other educational devices.
• Design, develop and test prototypes for subject kits and models for eventual mass production of teaching/ learning materialsand equipment.
• Design, develop and broadcast radio or Tv programmes for schools and teacher’s colleges.

Sections 

There are two sections under the directorate. These are:

I: Prototype, Design, Testing and Improvisation

The objectives and functions of the section of prototype Design,Testing and Improvisation are to:

• Design and coordinate the development of educational material such as manuals and guides for schools and teacher‘s colleges.
• Design, develop and test subject kits, charts and user manuals/guides for schools and teacher’s colleges.
• Set standards and approve equipment and other educational materials developed by different sources for use in schools and teacher’s colleges.
• Fabricate teaching/learning aids using modern technology and low cost materials for schools and teacher’s colleges.
• Provide opportunities to Curriculum Coordinators and other experts in the design, development and production of equipment, chemicals and other educationaldevices.

II: Instructional Technologies

The objectives and functions of the section of Instructional Technologies are to:

• Design, produce and test electronic educational materials such as DVDs, CDs, slides, recorded videotapes and cassettes for schools and teacher’s colleges.
• Collaborate with DCCT to train teachers and tutors on the design, development and use of electronic educational materials such as DVD’s, CD’s, video tapes and cassettes.
• Coordinate the designing, development and broadcasting of radio and TV programmes for schools and colleges.
• Set standards and approve electronic educational materials developed by different sources for use in schools and teacher’s colleges.