Teachers as Participants in Textbook Development: The Integrated Mathematics Wiki-book Project

Abstract

This chapter examines how the conventional relationships between teachers and textbooks may be expanded so that teachers become more genuine participants in the process of textbook development. The Integrated Mathematics Wiki-book Project is used as a vehicle for investigating this matter. First, the work environment provided for teachers is described. Then, the chapter focuses on the ways in which teachers participated in the joint editing of a textbook they were using in class, during the first year of the project. The analysis focuses on three aspects that characterize the unique work environment provided for the teachers: (1) designing a textbook for a broad student population, (2) preparing a new textbook by making changes to a textbook designed by expert curriculum developers, and (3) consulting with professionals that are not part of the teachers’ usual milieu.