[ATTW-L] To Use a Textbook or Not to Use a Textbook. . .

[Carnegie, Teena]

Susan,
What an incredible resource you have created! I love the “bccampus” concept and which we had a similar tool.

Thanks for sharing.

Dr. Teena A. M. Carnegie
Director Technical Communication
Patterson Hall 211C
Eastern Washington University
509.359.6037
Like EWU TCOM on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EWUtcom/



From: ATTW-L [mailto:attw-l-bounces at attw.org] On Behalf Of Suzan Last
Sent: Tuesday, April 9, 2019 8:56 AM
To: Hinson, Dr. Katrina <KHINSON at tarleton.edu>; attw-l at attw.org
Subject: Re: [ATTW-L] To Use a Textbook or Not to Use a Textbook. . .

Hi Katerina,

I was experiencing the same ambivalence as you regarding texbooks – I’ve tried various textbooks, all with similar results.  Many students just didn’t buy them.  I tried using mostly online resources and stocking my online learning platform with resources, etc.  That was better, but become confusing with the massive number of resources.  So, over the last couple years, I’ve been developing an Open Textbook online.  It’s now complete.
Here is the link, if you’d like to give it a try:  https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/technicalwriting/

It’s designed particularly for my classes at my university, so might not be universally applicable.
It’s a creative commons work, so feel free to download and adapt as you like.  Warning:  the downloaded pdf version is terrible at maintaining document design.  The online version is much better, and you can simply link to whatever chapters you’d like students to use.
If you do find it useful, I would really appreciate it if you could send me some feedback (or even if you don’t, constructive critiques is also welcome).

Suzan


[uvic.ca]

Suzan J. Last
Assistant Teaching Professor
Engineering Communications Course Coordinator
Department of English
University of Victoria<http://www.uvic.ca>

T 250-721-7284
https://www.uvic.ca/humanities/english/
sulast at uvic.ca<mailto:sulast at uvic.ca>




From: ATTW-L <attw-l-bounces at attw.org<mailto:attw-l-bounces at attw.org>> on behalf of "Hinson, Dr. Katrina" <KHINSON at tarleton.edu<mailto:KHINSON at tarleton.edu>>
Date: Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 8:46 AM
To: "attw-l at attw.org<mailto:attw-l at attw.org>" <attw-l at attw.org<mailto:attw-l at attw.org>>
Subject: [ATTW-L] To Use a Textbook or Not to Use a Textbook. . .

I've been puzzling over this question for a while and thought I'd see what others thought. It's time for book orders to our bookstore ( both for fall and for summer). Each time I have to place an order for books, I'm always shocked by the price of the text and then knowing the bookstore is  going to have its own mark up. In particular, I'm questioning the need for technical writing textbook. I have seriously contemplated not using a textbook for this particular class because I'm somewhat certain that few students actually use it; some students can't afford it; and, good information is also easily available online.  I'm also thinking the only reason I require a textbook is because of a mental mindset that associates college with textbooks. Anyway, I thought I'd see what others felt about textbooks - to use or not use.

I look forward to hearing your input.

With regard,

Dr. Katrina L. Hinson

Dr. Katrina Hinson,
Ph.D. Rhetoric, Writing and Professional Communication
Assistant Professor of English
Tarleton State University
“progress not perfection"

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