Textbook Errors-A Didactic Advantage? One of the annually recurring efforts of most General Chemistry instructors is the selection of an error-free textbook for their next course. Upon adoption of a new text disenchantment soon sets in, however, when the reader discovers a variety of errors. As long as only minor inaccuracies occur, valuable lecture time does not have to he wasted on corrections. More serious prohlems arise with errors that mislead students because of a writer's misconceptions. One example is the 12-V lead storage battery often-used t o describe a n electrochemical application. Several recent texts,' instead of showing a diagram PbS04(s)IPb(s) cell of six 2-Vcells connected in series, depict the battery a s a singlePb(s)IPbSO~(s)IHzSOa(aq)IPbOt(s), with six interconnected lead plates and six interconnected lead oxide plates with the text description supporting the erroneously drawn figure. In order to heighten students' interest and increase their willingness to read the textbook carefully, while a t the same time strengthening the lecturer's credibility, conceptual textbook errors of this type can he used as an advantageous teaching strategy. After identifying the chapter, but without disclosing any fundamental errors beforehand, the lecturer issues a challenge t o the class: written documentation and correction of major errors in the assigned reading will earn a small bonus to be counted toward the course grade. During a recent challenge of the example quoted above we found eager participation by many students. While only few were able to find the errors in question, they were frequently able t o correct their own misconceptions about electrochemical conventions such as direction of current flow and identifying cathodes and anodes in electrolytic and voltaic cells. During a later lecture period their aroused curiosity can then be satisfied hy briefly explaining major textbook errors in the assigned chapter. This approach has resulted in significant learning enhancement in our course.
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Davis, R. E., Gailey. K. D.. and Whitten, K. W.. "Principles of Chemisry." Salnderr College Publishing. Philadelphia, 1984, p. 651: Masleion, W. L. Slowinski. E. J., and Stanitski, C. L.. "Chemical Principles,'' 5lh ed. Saunders College Publishing, Philadelphia. 1981, p. 504: and Whmen. K. W., and Gailey. K. D.. "General Chemistry." 2nd ed.. Saunders College Publishing. Philadelphia, 1984.
Bernhard Binder Southern Oregon State College Ashland. OR 97520
Volume 61
Number 12
December 1984
1043
