Comments on: Textbooks ≠ Curriculum http://www.k12opened.com/blog/archives/302 A blog for reflecting on the opportunities and challenges in open education Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:45:54 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: karen http://www.k12opened.com/blog/archives/302/comment-page-1#comment-885 karen Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:38:03 +0000 http://www.k12opened.com/blog/?p=302#comment-885 Another interesting article on this: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011069269_math14m.html In this article, it is reported that Bellevue did a study of student results using each of the two textbook series. Not surprisingly, some students did better with one and some with the other. That’s the whole point of the teacher’s role, differentiating instruction, and ultimately flexible, open resources. Another interesting article on this: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011069269_math14m.html

In this article, it is reported that Bellevue did a study of student results using each of the two textbook series. Not surprisingly, some students did better with one and some with the other.

That’s the whole point of the teacher’s role, differentiating instruction, and ultimately flexible, open resources.

]]> By: Michael Rowe http://www.k12opened.com/blog/archives/302/comment-page-1#comment-797 Michael Rowe Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:12:21 +0000 http://www.k12opened.com/blog/?p=302#comment-797 Hi Karen. Thanks for your post. I would even go one step further and suggest (as have many others) that content in any of it's forms is not the curriculum. Too often we place content at the centre of our teaching, which reinforces the idea that to memorise that content is sufficient to pass the course. Sadly, poor assessment strategies do the same thing, with students and teachers alike believing that to regurgitate content proves competence in a field. We need to move beyond the notion that it's the content that's important, and rather focus on using content as part of a complete teaching and learning strategy that facilitates critical thinking. Hi Karen. Thanks for your post. I would even go one step further and suggest (as have many others) that content in any of it’s forms is not the curriculum. Too often we place content at the centre of our teaching, which reinforces the idea that to memorise that content is sufficient to pass the course. Sadly, poor assessment strategies do the same thing, with students and teachers alike believing that to regurgitate content proves competence in a field. We need to move beyond the notion that it’s the content that’s important, and rather focus on using content as part of a complete teaching and learning strategy that facilitates critical thinking.

]]> By: Jared Stein http://www.k12opened.com/blog/archives/302/comment-page-1#comment-796 Jared Stein Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:51:33 +0000 http://www.k12opened.com/blog/?p=302#comment-796 Arguably, textbooks may not be "the most important" dynamic that affects learning, but they are important--some teachers would say /too/ important--and in many ways textbooks define or direct the pursuit of learning and the behavior of teachers who use them, assign from them, assess from them, etc. Sure, the textbook is not the whole picture, and the textbook is not exactly equal to curriculum, but that doesn't mean textbooks (their design and content) are irrelevant, or that their role in teaching and learning is negligible. Arguably, textbooks may not be “the most important” dynamic that affects learning, but they are important–some teachers would say /too/ important–and in many ways textbooks define or direct the pursuit of learning and the behavior of teachers who use them, assign from them, assess from them, etc.

Sure, the textbook is not the whole picture, and the textbook is not exactly equal to curriculum, but that doesn’t mean textbooks (their design and content) are irrelevant, or that their role in teaching and learning is negligible.

]]> By: Textbooks are Not the Curriculum « http://www.k12opened.com/blog/archives/302/comment-page-1#comment-792 Textbooks are Not the Curriculum « Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:34:51 +0000 http://www.k12opened.com/blog/?p=302#comment-792 [...] 8, 2010 · Leave a Comment Karen Fasimpaur has a new post lamenting the focus on textbooks instead of curriculum as a whole. From the post: [...] [...] 8, 2010 · Leave a Comment Karen Fasimpaur has a new post lamenting the focus on textbooks instead of curriculum as a whole. From the post: [...]

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