Textbooks
Choosing a textbook is important for the students as well as the instructor because it has to be a right fit for both parties. Sometimes if it isn't the right textbook, the the learning experience is compromised.
Using additional textbooks is important but hard for teaching as the students are only allowed 1 reference book and we as instructors may not refer to other material when lecturing.
I have always used two texts as well with good results.
The approved textbook for the curriculum should be the bible. Any other textbook the student can use to supplement their learning is okay as long as their are no contradictions
Hi Jeff,
This way the students are getting a comprehensive view of the course content as presented by two different authors/publishers. This expands their knowledge as well as gives them different perspectives.
Gary
I have found that using two or more texts as reference on classes that involve technical topics very useful if not required.
At our institution, we have moved to unified textbooks for all similar programs across the SBU as part of our realignment. Granted, the Chairs all agreed to the textbook. However if the textbook isn't the right fit for the faculty who are teaching it, this can make it challenging. Especially since we can change only the title once per year (and only if the other Chairs agree to do so.)
A workaround has been the allowance of "optional textbooks" in the syllabus. This way, a student may benefit from a nugget of knowledge contained in another text (not contained in the official textbook.)
