| These days there are so many teaching | | | | bad effects resulting from such resources. |
| resources offered free on a huge number of | | | | Another important thing to note is that such |
| websites. This means that teachers can increase | | | | resources have specific usage guidelines. This |
| their teaching skills without incurring any extra | | | | means that a teacher might be prosecuted if the |
| costs. However, just like many other free things, | | | | rules regarding the usage are violated to certain |
| such resources may have some side effects and | | | | extents. It's therefore very important that you |
| it's therefore the teacher's duty to take | | | | read all the terms of use regarding the materials |
| appropriate precautions. In essence this means | | | | provided by the sites. Apart from these, there |
| that there are certain things that you as a | | | | are other general things that you should bear in |
| teacher should have in mind before you opt for | | | | mind regarding the free teaching resources. First |
| the free teaching resources as your source of | | | | when choosing a source of the resources, its |
| added teaching knowledge. | | | | important to pick one that has a policy not to |
| First, most of the sites offering the materials | | | | pass your information to third party sites. |
| cannot guarantee that such materials will always | | | | This is especially the case with sites that require |
| be available. This means you should save such | | | | subscriptions in order to access their materials. If |
| information elsewhere to avoid running into | | | | you intend to submit materials to the free sites, |
| problems when planning your lessons. You can also | | | | it's important to ensure that you do not infringe |
| have secondary sources that you can result to in | | | | any copyright laws. The same also applies to |
| case the free resources are no longer available. | | | | submission of materials that could be dangerous |
| Secondly all the resources are offered as they | | | | to other users such as those containing viruses, |
| are. This means that any teacher who suffers | | | | worms and other destructive elements. Finally it's |
| loss of revenue, anticipated profits, goodwill and | | | | important to note that most of the free teaching |
| business opportunity resulting from the use of | | | | resources found online are submitted by third |
| such materials cannot claim compensations. | | | | parties. |
| It's therefore the duty of the teacher to check | | | | The sites may not have the capacity to verify |
| whether all the resources are relevant for the | | | | the validity of all the content and it's therefore |
| intended use before taking any steps to use | | | | very important for the teacher to verify the |
| them. Another important thing to note when | | | | usefulness of such content before use. This does |
| opting for such resources is that the sites offering | | | | not mean that those who submit such materials |
| them do not guarantees that the materials | | | | have malicious intents but some may not be fully |
| offered cannot damage the users' computers. | | | | qualified hence the need for verification. Despite all |
| This usually applies to resource downloads which | | | | these, free teaching resources form a perfect |
| require installation in the user's computer. It's | | | | source of information for teachers when used |
| therefore the teacher's duty to perform relevant | | | | properly. By considering the above precautions, |
| checks or have systems in place to counter any | | | | you will surely benefit from the exercise. |