States that the challenge of being a responsible accounting instructor is in selecting an accounting text that effectively reflects the procedures presently being practiced by today's accountants, which will elevate students to entry-level competence. Also states that an accounting text should integrate both the "how" and the "why" of concepts.…

This article is designed to help textbook selection committees and personnel make better choices of instructional materials. It outlines the types of information selectors will need about their own districts' curriculum and characteristics and presents a chart for design analysis of this data which can be used in textbook evaluation. (SJL)

At some point in an educator's professional life, he may be asked to serve on an awards committee for current publications in his field. An educator's concern then is on how to do it without bias, and more importantly, how to do it when the texts may be very different from each other. One text may be theory-based; one may be a textbook; and…

Mathematics textbooks are critical tools for student learning in American classrooms. Teachers use them daily to plan and deliver lessons, and students use them in class to explore and learn mathematics. Given textbooks' potential to support student learning, it is important to understand how they are developed. While pressure is growing on…

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS DOCUMENT: Choosing the textbook for an introductory course can be a frustrating, haphazard, and time-consuming process. This year, members of the sociology department at Mercy College tried a selection process that eliminated at least the first two of those three problems. To begin, the department sent…

Pressure is mounting in California to abolish state approval of school textbooks and grant full autonomy to local districts. (Author/MLF)

Ninety-three French textbooks were examined to produce this overview of content and methodology; the analysis indicates the books have introduced few innovations and follow traditional modes of presentation. (CK)

One of a series dealing with current issues affecting language arts instruction, this paper brings into focus some of the issues surrounding textbooks in the schools so that informed decisions can be made regarding textbook selection and use. The major portion of the paper explores professional opinions regarding textbooks, noting the following:…

Since the reading abilities of general business students vary from one individual to the next, the author's report on the readability of three general business textbooks to guide business teachers in their selection of textbooks. (AG)

Examines validity of claims made for the Mannheim Rating (of teaching texts for German as a foreign language), as well as its criteria for judging textbooks. The nonexistence of a comprehensive grammar of contemporary German makes it difficult to discuss grammar; therefore, some ratings are seen as too harsh. (IFS/WGA)

Presents a summary review of 36 introductory college level astronomy textbooks for nonscience majors. References to more detailed reviews published elsewhere are provided where they exist. (SL)

The author focuses on two areas of textbook evaluation: the appropriateness of content for the course for which it is intended and the effectiveness of the book's content organization or layout as a stimulus to student interest and learning. She discusses the table of contents, introductory paragraphs, photographs and diagrams, and terminology.…

The "skills trace" is a textbook evaluation process by which an evaluator isolates one skill and reads every reference listed in the index of the teacher's manual. The evaluator then observes how that skill is introduced, taught, practiced, and tested throughout the grades. (Author/DCS)

Presents guidelines for use in examining the comprehensibility of a textbook, questions to ask about the book, and suggestions for using the guide questions. (FL)