FYS Textbook Subcommittee Report Andrew Gooding, Bill Price, Jennifer Sias and Mary Welch

Options we considered Continue using Critical Thinking in College Develop a new custom text with new chapters “Hire” Marshall professors to write chapters Ditch the textbook idea overall – NO text Provide suggested readings and resources based on the 5 learning outcomes. Provide these to faculty and students via citations and hyperlinks.

Suggested Readings and Resources focused on the five learning outcomes Information Literacy Intercultural Thinking Inquiry Based Thinking Integrative Thinking Metacognitive Thinking

Pros We provide students and professors with readings and materials that better align with the five learning outcomes. We provide everyone with more relevant and up- to-date material. We save students $57.75 (the price of a new copy of the custom text)

Cons/Issues Potential Issue Possible Solution Students in fall 2014 classes won’t be able to sell back their texts if we change True. However, if we continue with the current text in spring with the plan to change for next fall, then those students won’t be able to sell back their texts either. Anytime a professor changes editions, this happens. May not be a solution for this issue.

Issue Potential Issue Possible Solution No paper text to use in class Flipped classroom – assign reading outside of class. Follow up with in-class assignment, discussion and/or reading quiz. Assign reading AND a related assignment (such as a journal) outside of class so students come prepared with the assignment in paper.

Issue Potential Issue Possible Solution No paper text to use in class Assign reading AND a related assignment in MUOnline (like a journal or a discussion board post).

Issue Potential Issue Possible Solution No paper text to use in class Ask students to bring their own laptop computers, iPads and tablets. Even smartphones allow students to access and read documents from MUOnline. The Drinko Library also allows students to check out laptops and iPads.

Issue Potential Issue Possible Solution No paper text to use in class Faculty print select articles or portions for students to use in class. Also, students could be assigned to do the reading outside of class, and the prof could print one copy of an article for students to refer to in group assignments.

Issue Potential Issue Possible Solution No paper text to use in class Ask students to print select articles or portions to bring to class. They won’t be spending nearly $60 on a text as former students have, so perhaps it’s reasonable to ask them to print small amounts?

Other items to consider Chapter 5 The Marshall Experience – we still recommend that. I will work with Sherri Smith to revise/update it. We want your suggestions! Please take a look at the readings and resources we have compiled. If you know of a resource that you would like to recommend, please send the citation and URL to Jennifer ASAP so it can be included!

Where will the readings and resources be located? FYS website MUOnline in the FYS Faculty Hub MUOnline in your section – Jennifer can copy a folder into each spring 2015 section when she copies the FYS Final Exam materials into the spring sections. However, I need to do this no later than the week before classes begin (Jan. 12, 2015). So, if you would like to add anything, I will need it by Jan. 2, 2015!

Vote We need to make sure that the majority of the FYS faculty agree with the recommendation of the textbook subcommittee, so we will have an electronic vote. I will send an email message by the end of the week with instructions.