Since most class activities revolve around the utilization of textbook, selecting an appropriate basis for teaching is one of the most important decisions a teacher is liable to make in shaping the content and nature of teaching and learning. While the quality of textbooks has improved dramatically in recent years, the process of selecting an…

In this work, we developed an ontological tool, based on the scientific realism of Mario Bunge, for the analysis of the presentation of natural processes in science textbooks. This tool was applied to analyze the presentation of the concept of osmosis in 16 chemistry and biology books at different educational levels. The results showed that more…

Technological innovation is driving fundamental changes in all aspects of our lives. This is especially true of digital content, as our use of e-books, downloadable music, streaming television and movies, and online social networks has exploded. However, the explosive growth in our use of digital content seems so far to have eluded many of the 50…

Minority groups should be accurately presented in educational materials for all school children, especially those with minority backgrounds. Materials should avoid giving the minority child a negative self-image. Life should be portrayed as it is, including harsh realities. Factual material must reflect authoritative, comprehensive, and current…

Textbooks are often a core element of curricula and delivery of classroom instruction and have long been a source of controversy. The textbook adoption process has become less about content and more about political/cultural pressure. Special-interest groups from the right and left exert enormous influence on textbook content through bias and…

To help defuse censorship efforts, this booklet identifies issues and strategies for handling censorship efforts and provides the instructional materials selection policies of two Montana school districts. The booklet also includes sample forms for a citizen requesting reconsideration of materials and for a school media committee's reconsideration…

A checklist of procedural guidelines for selecting new and replacement textbooks, films, tapes, kits, anthologies, and other instructional materials. (DD)

This handbook is intended to provide guidance to librarians in the collection development of book, non-book, and media materials for education through analysis of collection policies for specialized, non-print material, text, juvenile literature, and reference collections. Policies for each area are analyzed with regard to purpose, clientele to be…

Outlines some procedures for dealing with complaints and criticism over textbook selection practices. (HOD)

This is one of a series of implementation documents prepared in conjunction with the revised minimum standards adopted in 1983 by the Ohio State Board of Education. Its purpose is to provide guidelines for developing a local policy governing selection of instructional materials, including textbooks, equipment, the library collection, and…

The author suggests that quality selection of textbooks at the local level is more likely to occur when: (1) administrators involve teachers, subject-matter specialists, and others in the selection process; (2) these individuals comprise a committee which makes a regular, continuing study of textbooks; (3) they consider using materials recently…

Directed toward media specialists and social studies teachers, this article outlines a selection process and evaluation criteria for print and nonprint social studies materials. (SJL)

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS DOCUMENT: Conflicts over schools in general and curriculum and materials in particular have increased in recent years. A contributing factor is that organized groups, determined to reform society by imposing their values on others, insist that textbooks and other educational materials reflect their views.…

Prepared for use by middle and secondary school teachers and administrators, this document provides guidelines for the selection of instructional materials to be used in the classroom. After presentation of general criteria for the selection of instructional materials in all subjects, selection criteria are given for the English language arts and…