Instructional materials: A comprehensive ChatGPT-assisted definition

Abstract

Theories and applications in the field of education are interconnected. Thus, stakeholders in education—teachers and instructional leaders in particular—would benefit from having a thorough understanding of important educational terms, like instructional materials, for this could lead to better understanding and realization of teaching-learning results. To attain the main objectives of the study, the researcher conducted a thorough related literature search and examination of the definitions/descriptions of the term in order to analyze the meanings from different authors. Then, with the aid of the ChatGPT, the researcher eventually created a comprehensive definition of the term and determined what resources were qualified and those that did not fall in the category of the term. Although authors provided diverse definitions and meanings of the term, they generally converged on defining them as resources employed by educators to facilitate the teaching-learning process. The primary purpose of instructional materials is to support the teaching process, stimulate students’ interest, and improve knowledge retention by providing realistic and experiential learning opportunities. Likewise, to foster positive student outcomes by enhancing engagement, concretizing ideas, and complementing traditional teaching methods. Instructional materials are essential for the accomplishment of teaching-learning objectives and goals, which set them apart from resources that do not have direct educational function or those resources that do not directly contribute to the teaching-learning process.