A corpus of current editions of statistics textbooks was assessed to compare aspects and levels of readability for the topics of "measures of center," "line of fit," "regression analysis," and "regression inference." Analysis with lexical software of these text selections revealed that the large corpus can…

Contends that if textbooks are to be improved it is essential that teachers, administrators, and textbook selectors become more demanding and discriminating consumers. Examines various textbook components that need improvement such as: (1) photographs; (2) basic skills exercises; (3) worksheets; and (4) content. (BSR)

Asserts that college composition courses should go beyond having students write about their own experiences and should encompass a study of texts that reveal conversations going on among educated people. Notes that successful programs have shown that such changes can be made. (SG)

Recommends selection criteria for college level sociology textbooks, including appeal, coverage, interest, difficulty, and salesmanship. The article concludes with suggestions for motivating students to read the textbooks. (Author/DB)

The task of choosing the right text(s) for an undergraduate music theory program is difficult, at best. Sixty-seven U.S. institutions of higher learning offering graduate degrees in music theory were surveyed to determine what undergraduate textbooks were used, how long they have been used, and how satisfied the schools were with the texts. The…

Most speech communication curricula have room for only three organizational courses: (1) business and professional speech communication (B and P), usually offered to freshmen and sophomores; (2) an introduction to organizational communication, presented to sophomores and upper-class students; and (3) a seminar in organizational communication, for…

Describes how the Freshman English curriculum at Ramapo College was altered to include works by non-Western authors. Focuses on problems teachers faced in choosing texts and becoming familiar with new bodies of literature in a short period of time. Reports that students enjoyed their experiences in reading and writing about non-Western literature.…

Saint Mary's College (Indiana) offers a minor program in computer science. The program's introductory computer science class traditionally taught Pascal. The decision to change the introductory programming language to C++ with an object oriented approach was made when it became clear that there were good texts available for beginning students.…

Maintains that philosophy has become an integral part of geography education at the university level. Considers the value of textbooks in teaching and learning about philosophy in geography. Reviews textbook treatment of the topic and provides a list of 25 textbooks that explore geographic philosophy. (CFR)

Argues that there are special problems associated with designing and teaching a course about authors outside of the literary canon. Traces the development of a course on Victorian women writers from initial development difficulties to final thoughts on restructuring the syllabus. Notes works used in the course. (DSK)

Examines how information from psychological and educational research was used to develop and implement a remedial chemistry course, focusing on the viewpoint of a learning process based on research in cognitive science. Comments on textbook selection, testing, scheduling, instructional strategies, and other areas are included. (JN)

Questions content of many introductory courses in political science, pointing out most courses focus on the U.S. political system, not the discipline and its basic theoretical and conceptual elements. Argues for a generalist approach that gives students a better understanding of political systems and the global world. Includes authors, choices,…

Discusses the impact of Marxist geography on course content and textbooks in college geography. Reviews three textbooks. Identifies four persistent problems in the representation of Marxist geography. Suggests a template through which teachers can offer students a more discriminating account of that model. (CFR)

On-site visits and surveys of parents and students, as well as tribal, education, and government officials were utilized to gather information regarding selected Indian education programs and practices in Alaska, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. Many local and federally funded programs existed to provide Indian students with a…