I agree with Mark that it is the general question of text art and illustration that should be examined. My impression from casual conversations with authors of introductory textbooks is that they have little control over the illustrations that appear. These items are the products of internal staffs of the publishing companies. Most of these illustrations are irrelevant and many are plain wrong. Those of us who teach classical conditioning know how awful are the explanatory diagrams that are found in most intro textbooks, and, regularly, I have graduate students do a critique of one of these diagrams as an answer on their proseminar exam. [Many of our grad students will teach an intro course at some time in the future, and I don't want them showing this garbage uncritically.]
Our field is being presented in textbooks by graduates of fine arts programs who do not know psychology. One solution is to abandon the adoption of these introductory textbook monstrosities for our classes. Most of us have a good collection of overheads, digital overheads, background and current readings, and other material. How closely do TIPsters follow the material in their introductory textbook which is in use at this moment? If some fairy [a good or bad fairy, depending on your druthers] were to make your current intro psych textbook disappear, how much impact would this have on your course? How difficult would it be to continue with your course? I think of how many more interesting books students could buy to read with the $75 they saved from buying an intro textbook. Ken ---------------------- Kenneth M. Steele, Ph.D. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dept. of Psychology Appalachian State University Boone, NC 28608 USA --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
