Formative evaluation as an indicator of student wants and attitudes

Needs analysis prior to materials design is necessary but not sufficient. Therefore more emphasis should be put on formative evaluation and monitoring as materials are piloted. Such evaluation may reveal important information about student attitudes which can be difficult to obtain in an initial needs analysis. Feedback is especially important when materials represent an innovation, as it may act as a means of creating a sense of ownership and involvement in the materials which development theory tells us is crucial in the acceptance of innovation. This paper discusses an academic reading course for students of business and management in Tunisia. It describes student reactions to teaching materials, attempts to explain causes and shows how curriculum developers revised the materials to both the students' and teachers' satisfaction.