Essential Characteristics of a good science text-book

In the teaching-learning process, the text-book occupies an important place. There is a saying “As is the text-book, so is the teaching and learning”. A good text-book can even replace class-room teaching. The science text-book should aim at aiding the pupils in the development of their personalities, in developing open mindedness, developing appreciation and understanding of nature and not merely stuffing their minds with facts.

Characteristics of a good science text-book

1 . The author: A good text-book is judged, at face, by the author, his qualification and experience.

2. Mechanical features of the text-book:

(a) The print and paper used and the binding of the text-book should be attractive. It should be hard and durable.

(b) The printing should be clear, legible and appropriately spaced.

(c) The book should be well-illustrated with diagrams, sketches and pictures.

(d) The size of the print, the language and experiments discussed should suit the age of the child and standard of the child.

3. The subject matter-its nature and organisation:

(a) The subject-matter should be developed as far as possible in psychological sequence. Care must be taken of the mental growth and interest of pupils.

(b) There should be consistency of the subject-matter and the text-book should satisfy the objectives of science teaching.

(c) Each chapter should begin with a brief introduction and end with a summary. ^

(d) Subject-matter should lead to the inculcation of scientific attitudes, disciplinary and cultural values.

(e) Each chapter should contain assignments at the end.

(f) During treatment of subject-matter, numerical examples should find place where necessary.

(g) Headings and sub-headings are given in bold letters.

(h) Each text-book should contain detailed Table of Contents and an index.

(i) The language of the book should be simple, clear, lucid, scientific and precise. The English equivalents of the terms should be always given in brackets.

(J) The text-book should give suggestions for improving scientific apparatus.

{k) Examples in the text-book should be given from local environment and from life experience.

(l) During the treatment of science subject in the text-book, care should be taken to see that it is correlated with other subjects like craft, social environment and physical environment.

(m) Each text-book should be accompanied by a laboratory manual.

Besides these characteristics, the UNESCO Planning Mission has given some principles of writing text-books in U.S.S.R. and other countries. They are as follows:

(i) It should be first of all according to the requirements of the syllabus. It should also help in the improvement of the syllabus.

(ii) The facts, concepts etc., should be modern and within the comprehension of the pupils.

(iii) The contents should contain not only the established facts but also the problems which are being researched and thereby, arousing the interest in the pupils in these problems.

(iv) It should help in linking up science with life and practice. The pupils should be equipped with ‘know-how’ utilizing the knowledge in everyday life.

(u) The whole content of the text-book should be aimed at shaping the integrated modern scientific outlook which ensures success in mastering scientific knowledge and solution of the problems of vital issues. The content should be simple, brief, exact, definite and accessible.