Emeralnd International
college
Module Preparation Guideline
April 2016E.C
Addis Ababa
Norms and Standards of Module Writing
Overview
This lesson discusses what a module is, its parts, and formatting it. Also included
are some tips for effective writing, the size of a module and formatting the module.
Modules allow the learners to go through the material at their own pace. They
may be used for self-instruction or to complement instruction. Knowing how to write
learning material in module format is an important skill that educators should develop.
What is a module?
Modules are learning materials designed to help the students accomplish certain
well-defined objectives. The learners can go through the material at their own pace and at
their own time.
What are the components of a module?
The format and style of a module may differ depending on its purpose and the
institution where it is developed. But the components of module should be title,
overview, objectives, discussion of content, self-check test and evaluation activities, and
references. A brief description of each part follows:
1. Title: It shows the specific topic of the module. A good title should be clear, concise,
and reflective of its content.
2. Overview: It serves us the introduction of the module and describes its scope and
rationale. The overview summarizes the content and importance of the module. In
some modules, this section is called introduction, prospectus, or rationale.
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3. Objectives: A common feature of most modules is a statement of learning objectives.
They explain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes you want to teach. They should be
stated in terms of the learners' behaviors. Objectives a1so\" you to focus and organize
the information you would like to present. They also help the learners do self -
evaluation.
Verbs such as "know" and "understand" are vague and do not tell us what the
learners will be doing to demonstrate their understanding. See Table 2 for a list of
specific verbs that may be used in stating your instructional objectives. Remember the
acronym SMART when writing your objectives.
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A – Attainable
R - Realistic
T - Time bound
4. Discussion: This part is the content/s or topic/s of the module. The point is what
information should be included in a module? The information to be included in
module can be:
1. need to know information
2. nice to know information
3. less nice to know information
4. barely relevant information
5. might be used someday information
For purposes of training, the materials should be limited to the "need to know"
information that are vital and important. Furthermore, organize your content for clarity.
the structure is almost as important as the content. Organize your material from simple to
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complex. Include pictures, diagrams, and other illustrations that may help clarify the
information presented including exercises and hands-on activities that the learners should
engage in.
5. Evaluation: A self-check test, exercise, or other means of assessing learning outcomes
are common features of a module.
6. References: This a list of books or guides used in preparing the module or other
materials that may be consulted for further understanding or appreciation of the lesson
presented.
7. Style: Another consideration is the style that you should use. Should it be formal,
informal, or conversational? Decide on the treatment you wish to adapt for your
module. Regardless of the style used, what is important is clarity arid simplicity.
Tips for Effective Writing:
Write for your audience
Organize your material
Rewrite, revise, and edit your material
Use charts and illustrations to support your message Identify your subject
Use clear, short, familiar words
Eliminate unnecessary words
Keep sentences short and simple
Use the active voice
Avoid using only male pronouns.
The size of the Module:
The number of pages for each module should be 175-200 pages on average
accompanied by worksheet to be corrected out of 30%. The questions in the worksheet
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should have variety—multiple choice questions, fill in the blank questions, true or false
questions, multiple choice question, short answer and multiple choice questions.
Formatting the Module
The following points are recommended as to how to format the learning module:
Page Margin: Left margin=1.5 inches, top, bottom and right margins should be 1
inch each.
Font size: 12 points for the body
Font size: 14 points for topics and sub-topics and they have to be bold.
Font Style: Times New Roman
Line Spacing: Multiple 1.15
Summary
Instructional modules are learning materials designed primarily for independent
or self-study. The recommended components of the module title, overview, objectives,
discussion of topics, self-check test and evaluation activities and references. What is
important to remember is to write your objectives in behavioral terms, focus on the need-
to-know kind of information, and to write clearly and simply.
