Criteria of Good Materials
As the diagram describes, the process of materials development consists of seven steps.
1. The identification stage In this stage, the problems are identified and solved by designing
the appropriate materials. The identification of the problems can be gathered by conducting observation and needs analysis.
2. Exploration of need This stage relates to what skills, functions and meanings that
should be included in the materials. A materials developer has to explore various sources to get suitable language elements that the materials should
contain. 3. Contextual Realisation of materials
The next stage relates to the appropriate ideas, texts or contexts which are relevant to the topic used in the each of the units.
4. Pedagogical Realisation of materials A material developer has to obtain appropriate exercises and
activities and clearinstructions to use in the tasks. The level of language proficiency should be considered in deciding the language used in tasks
and instruction. 5. Production of Materials
This stage concerns on the physical aspects such as layout, font colour, type, size, and space that should be appropriate.
6. Students use of materials After the physical production is completed, the materials are ready
to be implemented in the real class. Students can use the materials and do the activities based on the given instructions. In this stage, however, it is
not the final process since the materials need to be evaluated by some parties.
7. Evaluation of materials against agreed objectives It is important to get feedback from expert, teacher, and students to
know the quality and effectiveness of the developed materials. The feedbacks will be the base to evaluate the materials to get the better one.
Since this model involves a cyclical process, it shows that the materials development is not a linear process and stop in a certain process. The materials
will keep developed in line with students’ needs and the changing of demands. Regarding this research, Reading skill is the focus of the developed
materials. The next part will discuss about the specific aspects of the skill to know the process of materials development dealing with the principles of reading.