On * www.umalusi.org.za a document titled
‘The effective use of textbooks in the classroom’
states the following:
A textbook can serve different purposes for teachers:
- a core resource,
- a source of supplementary material,
- an inspiration for classroom activities, and
- a curriculum itself.
It continues by stating the ‘Advantages for teachers’:
- Textbooks assist managing a lesson.
- It saves time, gives direction to lessons, guides discussion, facilitates in giving homework, making teaching easier, better organised, more convenient, and
- most of all, it provides confidence and security.
The ‘Advantages for learners’ are:
- They see the textbooks as a ‘framework’ or ‘guide’.
- It helps them to organize their learning both inside and outside the classroom.
- It enables them to learn better, faster, clearer and easier.
Lastly the characteristics of a good textbook are listed:
- Curriculum coverage
- Materials presentation
- Language
The full range of TAS Grade 8 to Grade 12 study guides in all major subjects in English and Afrikaans is not only a core resource, as stipulated by Umalusi, but they are also a free teaching resource. (Find out more here: https://www.theanswer.co.za/teacher/free-e-books-for-teachers/).
TAS study guides offer supplementary material in the form of test & exam resources, practice exams & answers, visual notes and study hints.
They also offer in inspiration for classroom activities through carefully selected exercises with full detailed answers.
The curriculum of each subject is fully covered – and regularly updated – by subject specialists i.e. teacher-authors with years of experience.
TAS study guides were developed for learners to act as both a teacher/supplement teacher and as a learning companion. The study guides are set out in such a way that it is easy to follow.
TAS study guides were also developed for teachers – it helps teachers to prepare their learners for exams in a learner-friendly way. It also guarantees step-by-step in-depth exam preparation. Read the ‘Advantages (of a good textbook) for teachers’ in paragraph 3 again – TAS study guides undoubtedly have all these advantages, and more.
As far as the characteristics of a good textbook go, TAS ticks all three boxes.
* UMALUSI Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training
