Mandated text that is not appropriate for the course
I have been mandated to use a text that does not provide me with appropriate information for my students. I have been providing my class with supplemental information - any suggestion on how to convince my school to find a new text?
Hi Diane,
Also, if possible get your advisory committee to support your selection of the new textbook. This generally carries a lot weight with college administrators.
Gary
Show your administrators why the textbook does not work for the course, show your administrators the textbook you would like to use; if the cost is reasonable, and the book goes along with course description, and course outline, and if the textbook is on a level the students are able to understand that would be part of getting new textbook.
In addition to having several other faculty review the textbook, I would suggest you ask a couple of your students you trust to do so as well and include this in your analysis/report.
Students offer an important and unique perspective about what's missing, what works and what doesn't in a textbook. This gives the decision maker in the situation another perspective.
Hi Pamela,
Good way to make sure the reading content you are assigning is current and reflective of the standards of the field. Also, by knowing this you can find comfort in asking the students to purchase an expensive textbook for the course. You know it is good and is tied into the MCO. The students will appreciate the material that they will be reading in the text because they know they are going to need that information later on in their careers.
Gary
The first thing I would do is to take the schools MCO (Master Course Objective) and put it side by side with the text to see if I could identify why the text was chosen in the first place.
If you cannot show a relationship between the MCO, then this should be escalated to the Dean or DOE and/or the creators of the MCO.
It is quite possible that the book was used based on earlier objectives, and somehow something got missed in a revision.
Hi Suzette,
Thank you for sharing this example of how textbooks can be reviewed and selected for the maximum benefit of students.
Gary
This has happen in several institutions where I have taught. The University that I am working with at this time has the system similar to the one that Gary discussed. We have a committee that looks at textbooks and other materials used in our courses. They are evaluated for appropriateness, correctness of information, whether they reflect current practice,and format-ease of use. If the Instructor feels that the text or materials are not approprate or that their are better choices available, they may petition the committee to reassess their choice. Thus far, this system has worked well and has resulted in changes in several texts used in our nursing program.
Hi Christine,
What I do is use my advisory committees to help me plead the case. They are the experts in the field so they know what is current and what isn't. Create a text book review task force from members of the advisory committee and have them review the textbook plus some that would be appropriate. Have them select one or two that would work and bring forth a recommendation for the text(s). Share this with school officials.
Gary
