New textbooks developed by a Charles Sturt University (CSU) education expert blend the old and the new as they address the new national curriculum for English now being rolled out across Australia.

 

The textbooks, written by education lecturer Mr Paul Grover from CSU’s School of Education, use modern and classic texts and combines traditional print and online text and activities.

 

“The Australian Curriculum: English aims to provide students with a firm grounding in grammar and language use, focusing on contemporary issues both in Australian and global societies. We have used the best examples available to illustrate and develop these skills in students across the nation in Years 7, 8 and 9,” said Mr Grover, who was a high school teacher and Head Teacher in English and history with the NSW Department of Education for 35 years.

 

“In the Year 7 workbook, we have used texts from such diverse sources as J.R.R. Tolkein’s fantasy classic Lord of the Rings, Anthony Horowitz's thriller Stormbreaker, the recent Hollywood animation blockbuster Madagascar, and news items from The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers, as well as students’ own writing. Australian, Indigenous, Asian and other international texts are all included.”

 

The books also feature the use of an ‘obook’, which uses online technology so readers can access material anywhere, anytime and on any device such as a laptop computer, tablet or smartphone. The obook also offers additional literature units that focus on texts relevant to cross-curriculum priorities, as well as popular classic and contemporary texts.

 

“Students can complete writing exercises covering grammar, punctuation, comprehension, reading, writing, spelling and vocabulary in their printed workbooks or in the obook, where they can then send their completed work to their teachers for marking and comment,” Mr Grover said. Group and individual work and assessments by fellow students are all made possible through the obook.