Classes without textbooks and classes that teach from packets have received mixed reviews from some Iowa State instructors and students.

“If the teacher can make up for not having a book by putting more effort into their lectures, I think it’s fine,” said Angela Hopkey, a senior in public service and administration and agriculture.

Hopkey has had two classes where she didn’t have a textbook and said it worked “fine” because there were adequate lecture materials. She also said not having a textbook was a “nice cut in cost.”

She said instructors should let students know how much the class will use the book before the student buys the textbook(s).

Melanie Wyatt, a sophomore in advertising, agreed. “I would like it if instructors would tell us if we’ll use the text, honestly, during the first class,” Wyatt said.

Tom Emmerson, a professor in journalism and mass communication, said he thinks most history texts cover information in more detail than students need, which makes the material harder for students to absorb and know what is important.

He teaches a history of journalism class without a text, using a course packet instead. He also lists readings that may help students understand the material in his syllabus.

Most of the students in his class said they were in favor of the textbook-free class.

Cheryl Gunter, an associate professor of communication disorders, teaches several classes and uses the textbooks in a variety of ways for each class. She said the value of a textbook depends on the particular class.

In her clinical methods class, the book is used as a reference; in her phonetics class, it is more central to the lecture and in her communication development class, the book is used to “elaborate information,” Gunter said.

Gunter said textbooks are often valuable as good reference materials.

“It’s interesting to talk to students to find out what they sell back,” Gunter said.

She said a lot of students complain about the abstract information in some of the textbooks for various classes.

“The real problem with not having a textbook is if the only way students can get their information is in the class, they have no solid source of reference other than their notes,” said John Pleasants, biology instructor.

Pleasants’ Biology 109 students are “obligated to buy the text.”

“I never ask a test question that comes just from the text,” Pleasants said.

Pleasants also has a course packet with outlines of all of his lectures and notes and students can access other various course materials over the Internet.

Many teachers have a course packet made if they don’t like the information a textbook covers.

Officials from Copyworks have noticed an increase in the number of course packets instructors use for their classes. But they are unsure if the packets were being used in addition to the text or as a substitute, said Scott Sackville, manager of Copyworks.

“Course packs are often more convenient for students because they can be purchased anytime,” Sackville said.

Sometimes students don’t even have to go to a classroom to take a class.

Pleasants teaches a class over the Internet also. “The course materials are available 24 hours a day, seven days per week,” Pleasants said.

Pleasants said there are now four classes on campus taught over the Internet — most of them are in the biology department.

Bob Weeks, a textbook buyer for the University Book Store, said, “Textbooks are changing in nature with increased technology,” and textbooks are starting to be replaced with CD-roms and disks in classes like history, microbiology and zoology — but in most cases a book is still required with the CD or disk.

Supplements in texts using the Internet have also increased in popularity.

“How applicable they [technology] are to a classroom, I really can’t judge,” Weeks said.