Three discussion papers about the Open University's correspondence texts consider (1) the role of a transformer, i.e., any person working in communication media who is responsible for the effectiveness of his/her decisions; (2) factors involved in the design of Open University texts, including their use as a resource for a range of different…

How economics can be taught through a student-developed textbook is described. Having secondary students construct their own economics textbook can be an exciting process. During the initial six- or nine-week segment of a course, materials can be collected and organized to make a book that the class can study for the rest of the semester or year.…

ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF PRODUCING ENGLISH SKILLS MATERIALS OR TEACHER-TRAINING MATERIALS FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES IS THAT EXTREME VARIATIONS BETWEEN THE STUDENT'S CULTURE AND THE MATERIALS WRITER'S CULTURE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INTERFERENCE IN COMMUNICATION. A SPEAKER'S VISION IS STRUCTURED BY THE KINDS OF TRAINING, BOTH FORMAL AND INFORMAL…

The purpose of this dissertation is twofold: (1) to provide a secondary school literature textbook suitable for use in an 8- or 10-week period, all of whose selections share the theme of sports; and (2) to provide a three part rationale for such a textbook--the first part discussing the evolution, uses, and potential of the thematic unit as a…

Behavioral objectives and related test items were used as a means of evaluating and revising text materials for an undergraduate mathematics course. The textbook under consideration was "Principles of Arithmetic and Geometry," designed to be used on the college level to prepare prospective elementary school teachers in mathematics. The purpose of…

Imbedded aids are units of assistance and enrichment woven into textual material to aid in reading comprehension. Eighteen specific types of aids have been developed so far, ranging from line numbering locators to independent study suggestions. This paper presents an imbedded-aids prototype, a partial rationale for the approach, and a critique of…

Different uses of numbers in natural language and mathematics is argued to have consequences for children's learning of numbers and for primary-grade textbooks. A study using particular properties of Hebrew indicates a crossing of the two language systems in children's reading of an arithmetic textbook. (MNS)

If interregional and global developments are what is most important in recent world history, how far back in time must we go to find a world that can be written about exclusively in terms of bounded cultures and civilizations? Why the period 1000-1500 is a good place to start is discussed. (RM)

Describes a project in which computer programs and textbooks explaining the theoretical basis and practical application of the programs have been developed. Also describes the computer programs and textbooks available and the role of these materials in chemical engineering education. (JN)

An attempt to demonstrate the erroneousness of the principle that language teaching materials must be based on a detailed analysis of various parameters of texts of the target language, such as frequency, usefulness, basicness, or productiveness of lexical or structural items. (Author/FWB)

Explains a generative theory of textbook design and describes three experiments that compared college students' solutions on transfer problems after reading science texts with illustrations adjacent to corresponding text and including annotations, and illustrations separated from text without annotations. (LRW)

The planning of an introductory calculus textbook in classical mechanics is shown as an example of an approach to textbook design that uses four main cognitive categories: sources of learning, instruments of learning, processes of knowing, and mechanisms of knowing. The aspects, domains, description, and elements of each section of the textbook…

Revisions of a mathematics textbook for nonmajors made by mathematics and mathematics education majors as part of a writing in mathematics course were reviewed by a mathematician and a writing expert to determine how these two groups perceive their audience. Comparison of the reviews indicate that mathematics writers should recognize students'…