Motivate Students to Read Textbooks.
Professors put great time and consideration into selecting textbooks for the basis of their course curriculum. However, students often don't purchase the required reading materials due to cost or do not utilize them as the professor would like. This may be because students do not understand the textbooks, know extrapolate key information while studying, or deem the information already available in class lectures. Educators can motivate students to study textbooks through explicit expectations, increased in-class usage and book-specific quizzes and assignments.
Instructions
1. Guide your students through a chapter of the book at the beginning of the term. This gives them a chance to become acquainted with the assigned literature. Point out features such as section headings, glossary terms and assessment questions which will help them extract important information. Demonstrate how the text can be broken up into smaller, manageable sections.
2. Clearly state that all books listed in the syllabus are required for the class. Back up your assertion by giving the students a "Course Review" exam or quiz at the beginning of the term. Request that students bring the class syllabus and the required reading for the exam. Ask specific questions which can only be answered with the book.
3. Administer in-class quizzes or assignments based on the textbook throughout the term. Have the students cite page numbers and direct quotes from the text. Give "take-home tests" which allow use of the book.
4. Vary your lecture material from the assigned reading. Do not simply regurgitate the important information from the text, but provide unique supplemental material. Students realize quickly when their professor is teaching straight from the book, negating any reason to read the text.
5. Use the textbook regularly in conjunction with the lecture. Direct students to turn to charts, graphs, or pictures during the lecture. Have students read key paragraphs aloud from the text.
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