tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798440099232048221.post5242835373263559405..comments2023-10-20T17:07:13.322+08:00Comments on Library Grits: Textbooks limitUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798440099232048221.post-775689246871007502011-07-21T08:46:26.242+08:002011-07-21T08:46:26.242+08:00Hi Dianne
While I agree with a lot of what you sa...Hi Dianne<br /><br />While I agree with a lot of what you say, I still feel that for some students textbooks will provide a scaffolding or foundation from which to build their knowledge - if they are well written, by educators. It is up to teachers to decide whether a text provides a sufficient base knowledge from which to explore concepts further to avoid a waste of money, and teacher librarians to guide teachers to enriching extensions of these basic concepts! (I do like Rick's ideas though...)LindaJhttp://crewsreviews.edublogs.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798440099232048221.post-67128037247474584032011-07-12T15:03:14.815+08:002011-07-12T15:03:14.815+08:00I loved your article on texts; it really tapped in...I loved your article on texts; it really tapped into my feelings over many years that they’re often a sop to lowest common denominator teaching and learning.<br /><br />About 15 years ago, in a consultancy with Shelford (a small girls’ college in Melbourne), we created an environment that teachers could choose between a textbook or enquiry-based learning approach, by creating an alternative to texts. We challenged them that for most courses (exceptions were maths or accounting), students would benefit from a diverse range of resources (now, it could be a mix of print & digital) to reflect varying interests, reading abilities etc – that is, would a class of 30 students be better off with 30 copies of 1 title – or 30 different resources? We showed that it would even be substantially cheaper by incorporating a book-hire type scheme and developing the library collection substantially. The library actually ended up with an extra $50,000 - $100,000 per year!<br />I think that the push to e-texts is from the publishers who believe that they will be able to sell direct to schools, without the need for booksellers at all! Thank heavens that we don’t deal much with textbooks – funnily enough we’re starting to get quite a number of our library customers starting to swing back to more print (particularly in areas such as English, History, Visual Arts & Design)Rick Susman - The Booklegger, Australianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798440099232048221.post-32585010137360373822011-07-12T13:37:48.234+08:002011-07-12T13:37:48.234+08:00I agree Dianne. It was not something I have given ...I agree Dianne. It was not something I have given much thought to (high school librarian) but your challenging, objective arguments confront this issue with real depth. Well done, great post.Julia Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00849660100599521601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798440099232048221.post-9097255587209765302011-07-10T15:38:22.583+08:002011-07-10T15:38:22.583+08:00Great post Diane. There is nothing like flicking t...Great post Diane. There is nothing like flicking through a 'real' book but I agree with your sentiments. In a post-pc era where some of our students haven't lived a life with cassette tapes/VHS and only know of iTunes and Amazon, are we in some way holding our students back (more to the point, the publishers)? We are a 1:1 school and because we are unable to provide e-textbooks for all of our subjects, it is no wonder that some of our staff and even students find the transition challenging - more to the point, unable to let go.<br /><br />There is an opportunity for authors and publishers here. With things like iPads and Kindles leading the post-pc age, why not harness the functionality of these devices not from just an economical and weight(less) issue, but from a universal access approach - that is, for students/staff who are vision or hearing impaired. Why not develop engaging e-content that reaches out to those who are visual learners?<br /><br />With great respect to the humble textbook in its current format, your post has clearly outlined that change is required in this area and publishers need to step up.Tom Leehttp://about.me/motiknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798440099232048221.post-2637081394526119162011-07-09T20:18:41.227+08:002011-07-09T20:18:41.227+08:00Great post Diane. There is nothing like flicking t...Great post Diane. There is nothing like flicking through a 'real' book but I agree with your sentiments. In a post-pc era where some of our students haven't lived a life with cassette tapes/VHS and only know of iTunes and Amazon, are we in some way holding our students back (more to the point, the publishers)? We are a 1:1 school and because we are unable to provide e-textbooks for all of our subjects, it is no wonder that some of our staff and even students find the transition challenging - more to the point, unable to let go.<br /><br />There is an opportunity for authors and publishers here. With things like iPads and Kindles leading the post-pc age, why not harness the functionality of these devices not from just an economical and weight(less) issue, but from a universal access approach - that is, for students/staff who are vision or hearing impaired. Why not develop engaging e-content that reaches out to those who are visual learners?<br /><br />With great respect to the humble textbook in its current format, your post has clearly outlined that change is required in this area and publishers need to step up.Tom Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15188687808409208934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798440099232048221.post-57166486887233837322011-07-07T18:53:29.158+08:002011-07-07T18:53:29.158+08:00I agree! Luckily many of our teachers do not issue...I agree! Luckily many of our teachers do not issue textbooks and their classes are richer for it. There are some that still cling to them. My first year teaching we chose a new textbook because we had new standards. The best "choice" was a book that covered our standards in the last 4 chapters, yet the state bought it anyway. I never used it. What a waste of money!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07786475320854134785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798440099232048221.post-70391794032083751582011-07-07T18:12:27.394+08:002011-07-07T18:12:27.394+08:00Ifeel the same way but the teachers at our school ...Ifeel the same way but the teachers at our school are not ready to let them go, I hope that sharing your blog with them might help change some minds.Staceythttp://librariansarego.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com