Who should choose the textbook?
With the idea of academic freedom, do you think that the instructor should choose the textbook and not the school?
Linda,
You provision of supplemental material is very helpful to and for your students. Sounds like you have developed a way to use the chosen textbook and yet through the supplemental materials keep learning interesting for your students. Good approach and one I know your students appreciate.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
My school has choosen all of the text books. So far there is only one text which I would change if given the opportunity. The text is so dry, repetitive and uninteresting that the students dislike reading assignments. For this class I have suplimented materials, videos and lecture outlines in order to make it more interesting and interactive. Sadly, I do not have the time to go through numerous books on the subject to find one I think would be a better fit. I am content with allowing the school to choose the book and working around their choice to deliver the information required.
Patrick,
This approach to textbook use is tough and I commend you for making it work. I like your suggestion of how textbooks should be selected. That way the textbook would be more relevant in the eyes of the instructor if she or he had a choice in the selection.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In a best case scenario, the instructor would submit the requested text and the institution would approve or not approve. I think that the institution should require the instructor defend the choice, especially if the institution has a standard choice.
I have no choice in the text that is used. I have students that have been moved from a more basic text to a more advanced one. It is difficult, but we have so far managed.
Dylan,
That has been my experience as well. Text book selection is a mixed process for sure with many variables being factored in as the final selection is made.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I've had mixed experiences. I like choosing the own texts, but there are times when first teaching a course that it's good when the school helps in that process. There have been other times where the texts that the college chooses aren't effective.
Joseph,
Great question and a tough one to answer since so many colleges dictate which textbook will be used throughout the company. When that happens the instructor is not going to be able to select the textbook. What I have done in such situations is to prepared handouts that target the content I want my students to have in relation to the textbook especially when I don't support all of the content in the text. This way I stay within company policy but also personalize my content to my class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
