Peer Review

Material is current and up to date in the field.  Examples and activities are relevant for modern day applications.  Introductions and summaries are offered for each chapter.  There are 21 chapters of material to choose from.  Tables, diagrams, and images are used throughout to provide organized visuals or visual examples of the material covered.  Material covered in earlier modules is often referenced in other modules to connect concept learning throughout the text.  The guiding principle of the revision is that students are not simply observers of the world but are participants in it.

Learning objects are provided for every section of each chapter.  Examples, activities, key terms, and quizzes (to include multiple choice, short answer, essay) are easily accessible to the learner to practice and review their learning.  Instructor resources including PowerPoints and test banks are offered by Openstax to assist in using the textbook in the classroom via in person or online learning.  Additional resources and research for each chapter and for students for an entire intro course are also offered for more effective learning.   Openstax also offers a customizable option of the text at a low cost so an institution/teacher can select the chapters and resources they want to use for a course and have the text custom made for their purposes.  In this edition, changes, were made to create additional opportunities for instructors to launch relevant and interesting discussions. In concert with the changes in the text, the accompanying lecture materials have been thoroughly revised and enhanced to include material beyond what is in the book, in order for instructors--at their discretion--to deepen these engagements.

The chapter quizzes provided at the end of each chapter have the answer keys provided so students can check themselves.  There is a highlight and notes option available, so students can key in on main points in the text using highlight and take notes electronically as they use the text online.  Each chapter and module are laid out with objectives, introduction, headings, summaries to provide easy flow.  There is a table of contents for easy access to any material and a search bar to use to search the text.  Accessibility tool “Google Chrome extension Read and Write” was tested in a chapter for reading purposes and worked well overall.  App was downloaded on Android phone “Galaxy 21” and worked as well as access to the text via internet including easy navigation.  For instructors Course Cartridges that can be integrated into Canvas and D2L learning management systems are also provided with this edition.