Completion requirements
University Centre of Maghnia
Master two /Languague studies
Gherras Fairouz
Cunningsworth’s View of Textbooks:
Cunningsworth viewed textbooks as:
✓ A resource for presenting material and providing practice.
✓ A guide for teachers in planning lessons and maintaining course consistency.
✓ A support for less experienced teachers.
However, he cautioned that rigid reliance on textbooks could limit creativity and responsiveness to learners.
Functions of Textbooks:
✓ A teaching and learning tool, offering structured content and learning activities.
✓ An informative and formative tool, providing knowledge while fostering competence, skills, and values.
✓ A didactical and educational support, helping teachers plan lessons and guide learning effectively.
✓ A motivational resource, supporting independent learning and reinforcing content.
d- Perspectives on Textbook Quality
The quality of a textbook depends on multiple perspectives:
✓ The state or education system, which defines national goals and standards.
✓ The teachers, who act as mediators transferring this knowledge to learners.
✓ The students, who are the end users.
Criteria for a Quality Textbook:
According to Pravilnik (2015), a good textbook should:
✓ Align with curriculum goals and knowledge standards.
✓ Be methodologically and didactically appropriate.
✓ Reflect current findings in the field of education.
✓ Be visually and linguistically correct, aesthetically designed, and suitable for learners’ age and developmental stage.
✓ Represent quality educational content, aiding both teaching efficiency and student learning (Strmčnik, 2001).
Over-Reliance on Textbooks:
✓ When used as the sole source of information, textbooks limit students’ exposure to diverse knowledge. In such cases, learners see only one perspective on a concept or issue, which restricts their ability to think critically or compare different viewpoints.
✓ Another problem arises when teachers rely on outdated textbooks. The information they provide is often no longer current or relevant, preventing students from engaging with modern developments and ideas.
✓ Textbooks tend to be low-level or fact-based, which can lead students to believe that learning is simply about memorizing facts and figures rather than developing understanding or analytical skills.
✓ Textbooks often fail to take into account the diverse backgrounds of students. Because they may not reflect learners’ interests, experiences, or aptitudes, they might not fully engage students or meet their individual learning needs.
Considerations When Using Textbooks:
✓ Treat the textbook as a guide, not a rigid framework.
✓ Modify, change, eliminate, or add materials when necessary to meet students’ needs.
✓ Supplement the textbook with other reading materials to provide a broader understanding of the subject.
∆The reference:
Last modified: Saturday, 1 November 2025, 7:05 PM