Evaluation of English Language Textbooks

Evaluation of English language textbook:  Some important issues for consideration.

Evaluation of textbooks
Predictive Evaluation	Retrospective Evaluation
It is done for the purpose of the selection of books.	It is on-going evaluation of the textbooks which takes place after the book has been selected for use.

Predictive Evaluation: there are two main types of predictive evaluation of textbooks:

ü  The Implicit Model

ü  The Explicit Model

The Implicit Model:

ü  It is based on impressions.

ü  It depends on taecher intuitions.

ü  It can be good when it is done by experienced teachers.

The Explicit Model:

ü  It can be used in situations where many teachers teach a particular level.

ü  It is done using a evaluation in the form of a checklist.

ü  Some Problems in Predictive Evaluation

ü  The lack of time.

ü  The use of evaluation instrument which especially if untested for reliability and validity.

Retrospective Evaluation: It is known as in-use evaluation of textbooks. This involves continuous evaluation of the textbook. It is done for several reasons:

ü  The book selected can be evaluated and re-evaluated to determine suitability.

ü  Teachers can use the results to make the book more effective by identifying parts that need attention.

Retrospective Evaluation gives us:

Composite Framework

ü  Teachers work on the retrospective evaluation project will be discovering the strengths and weaknesses of the textbook.

ü  The findings of the textbook evaluation will allow teachers teaching the same level.

Activity Sequence

ü  Using the checklist teachers do team evaluation periodically.

ü  Teachers work on getting the textbook pages to be digitized in the form of textfiles.

ü  Teachers keep reflective journals.

ü  A final evaluation should be carried out after the teachers have completely used the book.