Guidelines for Improving the Textbook/Material Selection Process

Abstract

This writer offers some suggestions for building a leadership structure and data base that will allow quality decisions to be made in the textbook selection process.

A hermeneutical study of authorial intent with respect to systems analysis and design textbooks

“…Ornstein (1989) warns us, however, that textbooks are often the only source of material for a course. Even if projects and cases are standard parts of the SAD course material, the actual course content guiding students' decisions regarding these materials is drawn from the textbooks (Bailey, 1988). Additionally, both practitioners and academics have disputed the soundness for methodological approaches as a basis for systems analysis and design.…”

“…Textbooks are an important pedagogical tool. They often provide the basis for content that is taught in courses, and therefore course material is often determined by what is available in the market (Bailey, 1988). In many cases, the textbook is the only source of material for a particular course (Ornstein, 1989).…”

“…Finally, textbooks will generally need to summarize a great deal of information, in which case they deal with topics superficially, and avoid discussions which would move beyond the scope of the book. Bailey (1988) suggests that course material must be determined before a textbook selection is made, and it should consider the impact of current practices. A checklist of curriculum items should be devised, and textbooks should only be chosen if they can meet these criteria.…”

“…School boards and education establishments generally produce checklists to evaluate textbooks (Ornstein, 1989;AAAS, 2007). More involved processes may include scales which rate textbooks on the basis of the checklist criteria (Bailey, 1988). These methods facilitate expedient and objective processes for selection.…”