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Presentation at a workshop on textbook writing
Jakarta and Jogjakarta 20 and 21 March 2015
by Professor Omar Hasan Kasule Sr. MB ChB (MUK), MPH (Harvard), DrPH
(Harvard)
PROCESS
OF TEXTBOOK WRITING 1
- The process of textbook preparation should start with general epistemology and curriculum reform seminars to raise awareness of the problem of duality and to propose epistemological and curricular reform as the needed solution.
- These should be followed by specific seminars with discipline experts to explore IOK issues in each discipline.
- Specific working groups should then be set up for each discipline of knowledge.
PROCESS
OF TEXTBOOK WRITING 2
- The discipline groups should produce integrated course outlines.
- Available reference and resource material for each course should be collected.
- Then a book should be designed and structured for each course (title, units, sections, and chapters).
- Each chapter should be structured as: learning objectives, detailed outlines (headings and sub-headings), key words, the main text, Islamic input, glossary, index, case studies, texts from Islamic sources (Qur’an, sunnat, other books), illustrations (pictures and drawings), chapter summary, review (questions, tests, exercises), and assignments.
PROCESS
OF TEXTBOOK WRITING 3
- An editorial board should be set up for each book consisting of a chief editor and 1-2 co-editors in addition to chapter authors, advisors, and consultants.
- The board will allocate 1-2 chapters to each writer.
- Regular workshops have to be held for chapter writers and editors to review the written material preferably once every 1-2 months.
- The chapters written must be tested by being used as classroom notes for university students and getting feedback and will meet regularly to monitor progress.
- It is difficult to find specialized references on Islamic aspects of the various disciplines. We have therefore designated two libraries one in Virginia (English references) and one in Amman (Arabic references) to help writers get the references that they need.
PROCESS
OF TEXTBOOK WRITING 4
- External discipline experts should review the manuscripts.
- The final versions should undergo serious editing and proof reading.
- A special style sheet has been prepared to guide authors, reviewers, and editors.
- It is envisaged that the book will be 150-300 pages and will be published an e-book with a few printed copies for libraries. A royalty will be paid to the authors.
NOTES
[*]
Adapted from the author’s presentation
at the 1st International Islamic Epistemology and Curriculum
Development Conference held at the Muslim University of Morogoro 9-11 August,
2014