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.
NOTE:
1] 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
