- Reflecting back on our work this semester, in what ways are textbooks a challenge for students?
Textbooks are obviously first and foremost a financial challenge for students. Additionally, nothing is more painful than spending more than $200 on a required textbook than a professor that never references it, requires reading or homework from it, and teaches differently than the way the material is being presented in the textbook. Also, realistically many students who struggle financially are on some form of financial aid, requiring students to be full–time. Full-time students have many classes and when each of these classes have a required textbook we literally can’t carry them all back and forth everyday let alone afford them. Textbooks are a challenge for students in classes where professors don’t work with the textbook material.
- What is one way OER addresses these challenges? What is one way OER fails to address them?
OER addresses these challenges by increasing awareness of open resource texts which can be obtained by students for little to no cost. OER fails to address the issues through its complete and utter lack of any marketing on campus at all. Never before this seminar did I even know this school participated in OER. As a thoroughly involved honors student, vice president of PTK, friend of HSAC students, friend to SGA, student who has a strong rapport with her professors and advisor, never did I hear of anyone mentioning OER or “zero cost textbook course”. If a student this involved in campus activities has no idea about it, who does? Get the word out there!! This is a very valuable resource, students are looking for this!
- Should students evaluate textbooks as part of their regular classwork/education? Why or why not?
Yes, because in doing so I look at textbooks differently and I pick out the material and texts which aid me in learning the subject matter the most. However, the downside is in evaluating a textbook you deem challenging to clarify the material yet it’s still a requirement for your class.
- Imagine your are a professor choosing a textbook for your class. What are three important ideas to consider when selecting a textbook for students?
I would want the textbook to be relevant to the course and my teaching style as well as to the level of understanding of my students. Beginner students shouldn’t be operating from an advanced level textbook without good reason. Clarity, I want the students to be able to understand the material thoroughly. If the information is simplified it can be understood by more diverse audiences (ex: students from all majors and levels). I would want the material to be current, and compiled from valid information in a well thought out and structured format. It should be a text that is inclusive of the diversity represented at CUNY. Its authors, publishers, and in-text examples should represent that diversity as well.
- What is the most important thing you learned from this seminar?
The most important thing I learned from this seminar is to look at textbooks critically. Also, that CUNY has zero-cost textbook courses options (limited amount), which myself and all of my class friends were entirely unaware of. I also learned the different ways I learn from textbooks and the pedagogical aids that I look for and learn from. I was surprised at how much I really appreciated the chapter objectives, summaries, and the charts and figures supporting the explanations.
