In my graduate studies, I am taking a Research class this semester. I am not a scientific person by nature and to say that this course intimidates me is a HUGE understatement! But taking it I am! I wish I could tell you that as soon as the course started all my fears and apprehensions were put to rest, but ... no such luck. In fact, after reading the first chapters in the required text, I was even more confused and fearful than ever before. The text made absolutely no sense to me and I was then certain that I was never going to be able to pass this class, or receive my degree. (ok ... so maybe I panicked just a little!) But I can tell you that I was dreading this class more than ever.
However, I then began to read some of the "optional" reading that was required and discovered a fascinating thing! The very same information was being discussed, but I actually understood what the author was saying! It was all still very new to me and something I had little to no experience with, but I could at least understand what was required and how it was to be accomplished. This got me to thinking ...
Why do so many authors of college text books seem to simply want to impress their peers with their vast knowledge? I mean really ... if a person has to read the paragraph 2-3 times to even have a rudimentary understanding of what they are trying to say, I feel they have failed! It is so daunting as a student to begin reading the course text and feel as though you are completely unequipped to understand it. I'm not saying that text books should be "dumbed down" in order to make it easy, but if you as an authority on a subject can't get your point across in a way that your readers will understand you are wasting your time. I feel that too many text books are written with colleges in mind rather than students. Just as in my case, the same information was being presented, but one was actually understandable, while the other was not. I reminds me of the type of person who talks and talks and talks just to hear the sound of their own voice, but no one around them understands what they are saying! It is a waste of time for the person listening, and a waste of breath to the one talking! While I will continue to muddle through the required text, I can assure you that I will be purchasing the other text so that I can at least understand what I need to know to pass the class.
I hope to write a textbook one day, and when I do I hope that I will keep the students who will be reading it and trying to understand the topic at the forefront of my mind at all times. I have no interest in impressing my colleagues, but rather in helping adults to learn new concepts in a positive way that will help them grow in personal confidence as well as subject matter. If I ever get the book written, I hope that the students comments after the course will be "This book helped me understand the information so much better!" rather than, "Wow ... I'm glad that I don't ever have to open that book again!"
