The World of the Hero Guides

What do teachers say about this resource? (11214)

I cannot make any suggestions to improve this resource. I think it's perfect as is. I find it comprehensive and cohesive with a whole range of activities which well prepare the students for their exams. I particularly liked the different types of activities scattered throughout the resource. Many other resources make use of the same activities over and over again, which switch students off. I like how this is varied, and so keeps their attention. I also like the extensive use of subheadings, which break the resource up into manageable chunks. It makes it easy to build a lesson around a chunk or two. It comprehensively covers the whole of the curriculum for the Odyssey in a way that students can use independently. It means that students who miss lessons for absence can quickly and easily catch up with the work covered. I like the images and sources scattered throughout, which make the whole resource visually appealling. They can also be used as 'additional' resources. The subheadings make the text less intimidating.

On the whole, I think that this is a very useful resource. It adds some interesting and valuable information and, more importantly, it provides teachers with good supplementary classroom activities. I particularly liked the clear layout and standardised structure of the content, especially with regard to the study of each of the prescribed books of the Odyssey. I liked that images have been included; also links to various internet-based resources. The resource is well-written and accurate in the information it provides. It is closely linked to the OCR Specification for H408/11 The World of the Hero (Odyssey). Its activities will be effective in consolidating knowledge of the text, and of clarifying in teachers’/students’ minds the various topics/themes nominated for study in the specification. The resource is perfectly in sync with the specification and the OCR-endorsed textbook. It will be easy for teachers to integrate this resource into their classroom teaching, either concurrently or perhaps, for revision purposes, subsequently.

I thought this was an excellent resource. It’s rare that I have far more positive than negative comments when reviewing, but this was one of those occasions, from the clear frontispiece,with set books highlighted, to the end. I particularly liked the thorough teacher’s introduction which was followed through in the body of the resource. It enhances learning by not just providing information but balancing it carefully with activities,so that students can take ownership of their learning. Its educational value is to provide a clear understanding of such a crucial aspect of western civilisation,without losing sight of the examination to be taken.

What do teachers say about this resource? (11215)

This is a wonderful resource. I felt the resource to be thorough and grounded well in the specification. It covered the breadth of knowledge needed for this unit well. It would make for an excellent revision resource as well as being a fantastic resource for use in lessons.

This resource would be a help to any teacher of this specification, as well as being an informative course in itself on the Aeneid. The ideas are clearly presented and would form a good preparation for the exam. The resource provides a helpful logical progression in terms of learning. The first section introduces the student to the historical and political context. Then the second section studies in detail the plot and themes for each book. The third section ties the elements together and helps the student to get into the theme-based mindset of examination questions, rather than fall into the temptation of simply retelling the story. Useful activities are provided throughout. As well as something a teacher could cover in class, there is ample material for students to study and research alone outside of class time. Helpful YouTube links to other resources are also provided.

The targeted activities were spot on. Section B was good, striking a balance between looking closely at the text and tackling the wider issues. Probably most of the information you would need is here, presented in a more user friendly manner.

Well illustrated ... the background material would also be helpful for Latin GCSE ... it did not speak down to students eg definitions of complex literary techniques like ecphrasis/epyllion ... I particularly liked the use of scholars, an aspect of the new spec, students often find difficult to incorporate ... It enhances learning being easy to read, highlighting key terms and phrases, and through its visual content eg images, photos. Its educational value is furthered by the references to YouTube ... There is also a good intermixture of activities and text eg p14-15 and helpful summaries ... very user-friendly ... I would purchase this as in addition to all the positives above,there are useful essay questions, p34,38 good use of boxes egp35 and the structure is similar for all books providing a sense of cohesion. Also all themes are comprehensively covered eg mortals, gods, heroic code, relationships, women, fate while Section C pulls the whole resource together.