In favour of using coursebooks.

We all know that in all chilean classrooms is used a standard textbook series. The reasons for this are many, depending on the design and focus of the curriculum, the mandates of the administration, and/or the level of expertise on the part of classroom teachers.


We have discussed this topic in class and toke some conclusions like that a textbook is only as good as the teacher who uses it. And it's important to remember that a textbook is just one tool, perhaps a very important tool, in our teaching arsenal. Sometimes, teachers over-rely on textbooks and don't consider other aids or other materials for the classroom. Some teachers reject a textbook approach to learning because the textbook is outdated or insufficiently covers a topic or subject area.


When thinking about how i want to use textbooks, i will consider the following:

1.- Use the textbook as a resource for students, but not the only resource.


2.- Use a textbook as a guide, not a mandate, for instruction.


3.- Be free to modify, change, eliminate, or add to the material in the textbook.


4.- Supplement the textbook with lots of outside readings.


5.- Supplement teacher information in the textbook with teacher resource books; attendance at local, regional, or national conferences; articles in professional periodicals; and conversations with experienced teachers.


The following table lists some of the most common weaknesses of textbooks, along with ways of overcoming those difficulties.

Weakness	Student Difficulty	Ways of Overcoming Problem
The textbook is designed as a the sole source of information.	Students only see one perspective on a concept or issue.	Provide students with lots of information sources such as trade books, CD-ROMS, websites, encyclopedias, etc.
Textbook questions tend to be low level or fact-based.	Students assume that learning is simply a collection of facts and figures.	Ask higher-level questions and provide creative thinking and problem-solving activities.
Textbook doesn't take students' background knowledge into account.	Teacher does not tailor lessons to the specific attributes and interests of students.	Discover what students know about a topic prior to teaching.Design the lesson based on that knowledge.
Reading level of the textbook is too difficult.	Students cannot read or understand important concepts.	Use lots of supplemental materials such as library books, Internet, CD-ROMs, etc.
The textbook has all the answer to all the questions.	Students tend to see learning as an accumulation of correct answers.	Involve students in problem-solving activities, higher-level thinking questions, and extending activities.

Ref: teachervision.fen.com/curriculum-planning/new-teacher/48347