session5.2-lamp-beating textbook costs
TRANSCRIPT
Beating Skyrocketing
Textbook Costs: Writing Your
Own
Presented at the 19th Annual AFACCT Conference
Session 5.2: January 8, 2009By
E. Joseph Lamp, Ph.D.Professor of Speech
Anne Arundel Community CollegeJanuary 8, 2009
History• First major speech text – written 332 BC
• What changed in 2300+ years? Not much.
• Fall, 1986 – 1st tier public speaking publication $35 a copy --ouch!
• $141 – 2009 cost
• Teacher heal thyself – write your own
Who might try this?• Professors:
– Teaching “process” or “skills” courses – Using many of their own “tried and true handouts” – Whose institutions are willing to permit innovation
What courses may be applicable?
• “Process or skills” courses with content does not change all that much from year to year.
• Suggested areas:– Speech skills courses (public speaking)
– English composition/grammar courses
– Foreign language courses
– Math skills/problem oriented courses
– Art skills classes
Why do it?• Advantages:
– Huge student cost savings
– Custom tailored to your student audience
– Every page gets used in some manner
– Quickly updated as you see the need
– Complete control of course materials
– Usually no copyright issues
• Disadvantages: – Not as comprehensive or as “glitzy” as a first tier
publication
– Few (if any) ancillary materials
– First attempt takes the most time
What do you need?
• Computer • Word processing package• Scanner• A “photo-fixing” package. • Laser-jet printer
When do you do it?
• Summertime?
• Whenever you can get blocks of time – 3-5 hours at a crack worked best for me.
• Do not try it during the regular semester.
What should be your approach?• **Think small: Use an inductive model as
opposed to a deductive model. • Work from your own handouts.• Ask colleagues for handouts. • Use your own students’ examples of outstanding
work – and screw-ups.
What should be your approach?
• Tailor it to your student audience.
• Make it easy to “find stuff” by:– Making the table of contents very inclusive– Having all the key words/principles/photos
included in the index
• Include a simple syllabus (no dates).
• Add “fun” materials unique to you or your class.
Let’s look at a few examples