ONLINE

ASSIGNMENT

ATHIRA.G.SUDHAN
NATURAL SCIENCE
REG.No:181/14376004
NEW B.Ed COLLEGE

NELLIMOODU.

TOPIC
Characteristics of a Good Text
Book

INTRODUCTION
Printed materials they being an essential part of science curricula player vital in teaching &
learning . Text books are the most widely used for all instructional materials now a days text book has
become a course of studying a set of units plans &a learning guide as well. A text book is an
economical device for teaching & students as it gives direction and saves time and energy . A text book
should really designed for the pupils rather than the teacher .They can help pupils learn how to learn .
Therefore It is important that text books do not prove to be more supplier of information .The text
books should stimulate reflective thinking and cultivate in students in the scientific attitude.
In the teaching-learning process the text book occupies an important place. There is a
saying As is the text book . so is the teaching and learning. A good text-book can even replace classroom teaching. The science text book should aim at aiding the pupils in the development of their
personalities, in developing open mindedness developing appreciation and understanding of nature and
not merely stuffing their minds with facts .
Text book are important tool in the hand of a teacher. It helps student to how and what they
learn to achieve some define goals .when we make a text we should give importance to its content
organization literary style, vocabulary, mechanical makeup and authorship.
Text books should be written in clear and simple language. Text- books should give a causeeffect relationship. Good text-books in history should reveal to the pupils where they are in time, space
and society. They should make clear to the pupils the relationship which links the present with the past,
the local with the distant and personal and national life with the life and cultures of the people living in
the other lands.

I) Characteristics of a good Text Book

Thurber and Collette (1964) sidestep Six criteria for choosing a good Text Book. They
are as follows :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Contents
Organization
Literary style and vocabulary
Illustrations
Teaching aids
Mechanical make- up and appearance

1.Content
The content of text books for any one subject matter field is remarkably
uniform ,about 85percent of the content being common to all of them.
The Following factors should be considered in evaluating content:
1. The content should be appropriate for the age level and experience backgrounds
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

of the pupils.
The Concepts should not be too complex for the maturity of the Pupils.
The Content should be consistent with the pupil s needs and interests.
The Content should conform with state or local syllabi that must be followed.
The statement must be accurate.
The Content should reflect the unknowns and uncertainties in science as well as
the knows.

2.Organization
Two distinct types of organization are seen in school science books:
a) In the first type using local organization, concepts and principles are
developed in the way that a well educated person must organize them which
is usually seen in college texts and in high school physics and chemistry
texts.
b) In the second type using psychological organization, the attempt is made
to present the materials in the order that would most meaningful in the pupils
whom it is designed which is seen in general science and biology texts.

3.Literary style and vocabulary

Literary style has much to do with the readability of the book . Although style
is difficult to judge , some points to be looked for are :
1. Length of sentence .
2. Directness of sentence .
3. Number of ideas per sentence
4. Use of lead sentence or paragraphs.
5. Presence or absence of irrelevant thoughts.
6. Continuity of thought.
While evaluating a text book the teacher must decided whether or not the
vocabulary is excessive or in appropriate .Text book should be read .

Illustrations
1. The quality and quality of illustration should be considered.
2. Photograph should be clear reproduced.
3. Diagrams should be carefully made attractive.
4. Color in the illustration adds to appeal and when properly used has

considerable

teaching value.
5. The recently introduced transparencies made on plastic sheets are
excellent teaching
aids but because of cost it can only be used in small quantities in any one
book.
6. Photographs should have relation with content in the next.

5.

Teaching aids
1. The table of content and index should be comprehensive .
2. Glossary should be included.
3. Activities should be closely related to content.
4. Activities should be closely related to content.

6. Mechanical make up and appearance

1. Artistic cover.
2. Durability for binding.
3. Size of book
4. Good quality of paper.
5. Length of line and size legible.
6. Attractive over all experience
7. Cover design and color should be appealing.
8. Ample space to be left between lines to provide for ease in reading.

ii)

Use of the Text book

1. It is used as a ready source of authoritative information

2. A Source of factual material in the preparation of assignments both for the

teacher and the pupils.

3. To provide motivation but attractive presentation and self testing exercise .

4. A handy source of illustration of super
5. To supply stimulating exercises, numerical problems and other devices which
would serve as a means of applying the knowledge again.
6. To help the pupils improving the subject systematic and fixing it in memory.
7. To give the biographical and historical reading material to realize the cultural
value of science.

CONCLUSION
Text books are the most crudely used of all instructional materials. A good science book
should help to from correct understanding of basic concepts and principles of science. It
should supplement and enrich classroom learning. So text books play a major role in
teaching and learning process. I helps the pupils improving the subjects systematic and
fixing it in memory.

REFERENCE
1. Dr. K. Sivarajan - Science Education; Methodology of teaching and pedagogic
analysis.
2. Cook. A, & Tulip.D-1992 The importance of selected text book feature to science
teachers , Research in science education , Vol (22) 91-100pp.