Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University How Do Students Use Textbooks? Dennis Jacobs Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of Notre Dame TextRev provides a window.

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University Currently Available Chemistry Textbooks a General (majors)54 General (non-majors)25 Organic57 Analytical25 Environmental88 Physical35 Biochemical59 a J. Chem. Ed., Book Buyers Guide, September 2000

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University What Informs a Textbook Adoption? F Instructor’s Experience with Current Textbook F Anecdotal Student Feedback F Info from Publishing Company Representatives F Opinions from Faculty Colleagues F Brief Reading of Select Topics from Dozens(?) of Competing Textbook Products F Roll the Dice

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University TextRev A Tool for Instructors in Any Discipline F As of Fall 2001, TextRev surveys are administered on-line at F Instructor gets immediate summary of class survey results F After a statistically significant number of users respond to a particular textbook product, a partial summary of the textbook ratings are displayed on the site.

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University TextRev Surveys F > 6500 Students Surveyed F > 110 Course Sections F > 90 Instructors F > 40 Institutions  Doctoral Universities  Master’s Colleges or Universities  Baccalaureate Colleges (4 year)  Associates Colleges (2 year)

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University Make a Prediction F Which category of first-year students report spending more time studying General Chemistry each week?  ‘A’ students  ‘B’ students  ‘C’ students  ‘D’ students

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University Relationship Between Anticipated Grade and Time Spent Studying Chemistry a Textbook, solutions manual, study guide, textbook’s web-site, accompanying CD. Self-Reported Hours per Week Spent Using Textbook Resources a Anticipated Grade

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University a Textbook, solutions manual, study guide, textbook’s web-site, accompanying CD. Self-Reported Hours per Week Spent Using Textbook Resources a Anticipated Grade Relationship Between Anticipated Grade and Time Spent Studying Chemistry

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University Fraction of Time Spent per Week Using Textbook Resources (2084 students)(1187 students) 6.0 hours 4.1 hours Anticipated Grade

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University TextRev General Chemistry Survey Comparison Between 1 st and 2 nd Terms 1st Semester 2nd Semester (n = 250) (n = 168) Anticipated Grade Hours per Week Using Text Resources 3.6 hrs3.6 hrs Same class of 450 students, same instructor, same textbook

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University 1st Semester (250 students) Helpfulness of: Max of 10 Images/photos6.8 ± 0.3 Real World Applications4.7 ± 0.3 Animations5.3 ± 0.4 In chapter problems7.0 ± 0.3 End chapter problems7.4 ± 0.3 Rating of: Clarity of Soln Manual6.6 ± 0.3 Same class of 450 students, same instructor, same textbook TextRev General Chemistry Survey Comparison Between 1 st and 2 nd Terms

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University 1st Semester 2nd Semester (250 students) (168 students) Helpfulness of: Max of 10 Max of 10 Images/photos6.8 ± ± 0.4 Real World Applications 4.7 ± ± 0.3 Animations5.3 ± ± 0.4 In chapter problems7.0 ± ± 0.4 End chapter problems7.4 ± ± 0.4 Rating of: Clarity of Soln Manual6.6 ± ± 0.3 Same class of 450 students, same instructor, same textbook TextRev General Chemistry Survey Comparison Between 1 st and 2 nd Terms

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University Instructors

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University Students

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University Hrs/wk

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University General Chemistry Students Less than 1% of the students had specific homework assignments on the CD

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University Time on Task F “Time plus energy equals learning. There is no substitute for time on task.” Arthur W. Chickering and Zelda F. Gamson, “Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education,” Jossey-Bass (1991) F Out of class assignments should have a clear purpose, should be relevant to students’ lives, and should be at the same time challenging and manageable. S. Black, American School Board Journal, 183, p. 48 (1991)

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University When homework is assigned, General Chemistry students spend two additional hours per week studying. Time spent on Task: Impact of Assigning/Grading Homework Problems Hrs/wk Task

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University The Data Can be Mined to Get At More Complex Issues F Within a given book title, what textbook features appeal most to non-science majors at a liberal arts college? To engineering majors at a research university? F What is different about the study patterns of non- traditional versus traditional students? Of male versus female students? F How does the time a student commits to studying depend on the instructor’s use of the textbook resources?

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University Who Benefits From Comprehensive Textbook Evaluations? F Instructors  Course Design - Instructors learn how their own students utilize and value the textbook resources for the course  Textbook Adoption - Learn how instructors and students in similar settings rate the features of competing textbook products F Publishing Companies, Editors, & Authors  Feedback on the ways instructors incorporate textbook features into their course design, and on the corresponding student response as to the helpfulness and quality of these resources.  Views from different demographic sectors F Students  Improved course design, improved textbooks, better education

Oct. 18, 2002Indiana University Study the Representative Data Set F When you view the data, what strikes you? What puzzles you? F Write some specific questions, that you would like your students to answer, about the ways they use and value textbook resources. F If you were considering whether to adopt a particular textbook/resource for a course that you will be teaching next year, what specific questions would you want to ask of faculty and students who are using that resource now?