textbook?
textbook?
I wrote this in 2012. I have updated it a bit here in 2018. Please read if you are concerned about a real textbook and maybe want to buy one. Suggestions are at the very end.- Dr. McCord
Before the year 2012, we had an official (hardcopy / hardback) textbook for the course. It was our best way to make sure that students had a "go-to" resource for what topics we teach in CH301 and CH302. However, over time the course curriculum has changed such that it was not following the order of any given text. Plus, there was lots of material in the textbook that we never covered. In this web-based society that we live in now, the majority of the content of our courses can be found easily online.
In addition to all of that, the faculty teaching the course have also put lots of content online. After polling students on their use of our previous textbooks, we have found them to not be the main source for the student as they learn general chemistry. We have created our own online chemistry resource (the gchem site) with both written and video content to explain the concepts in detail. In addition, simple searches on Google, Yahoo, or Bing will reveal countless web sites with a wealth of material for learning chemistry. So not requiring a textbook does not put the student at any disadvantage in learning chemistry. Seeking out and finding the information you need is a skill that all students should develop as they go throughout their academic pursuits. Today is the age of information - instant information.
Not required does NOT mean not recommended! Let us be clear on this issue! We do still think that having a good textbook as a resource is monumental in a student's learning of the material. The comfort of having a textbook to refer to is vitally important to most students (not all). There are many many good textbooks out there. From a content perspective, many of the texts are similar (in both new and old editions). So we do think that many students will benefit from having a real textbook. But we also feel that the book can simply be an old edition that is reasonably priced on the used market.
A publisher's hardcopy textbook is a great resource for getting a different perspective on the material. Many students will chose to go without a textbook and get all their information from class, the gchem site, and the internet. We do provide useable study materials through our Canvas courses and the gchem site. So if you want to justify some cost - put it towards a good computer or tablet that will allow you to find the information you seek online and go mobile at the same time.
No Book is a Substitute for Good Study Habits. No matter what resource you use in your studies, it is up to you, the student, to learn to develop good study habits and practices. A stack of brand new $200 textbooks will not teach you chemistry. YOU have to do that for yourself. YOU have to have the discipline to make yourself read the available resources and learn the material. The instructors and teaching assistants will also help you along your path to gaining this new found chemical knowledge. So know that it all still comes down to you and what you do with your study time. Make the most of it and you will find that it isn't only your understanding of chemistry that excels, but all of your other courses and subjects in your college career.