Why don't some professors recommend a text book for a course?

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I took a semester where a professor was teaching Statistics. He gave out no lecture materials or no name of text books.



When I asked him for a text book name, he gave me a name of a 1000+ page book.
I could not find anything relevant in the text book which matches his lectures.
Finally, I quit the course.



The same thing happened to my Numerical Analysis course.



Why don't some professors recommend a text book for a course?






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    up vote
    1
    down vote

    favorite












    I took a semester where a professor was teaching Statistics. He gave out no lecture materials or no name of text books.



    When I asked him for a text book name, he gave me a name of a 1000+ page book.
    I could not find anything relevant in the text book which matches his lectures.
    Finally, I quit the course.



    The same thing happened to my Numerical Analysis course.



    Why don't some professors recommend a text book for a course?






    lecture-teaching-method







    share|improve this question























      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite











      I took a semester where a professor was teaching Statistics. He gave out no lecture materials or no name of text books.



      When I asked him for a text book name, he gave me a name of a 1000+ page book.
      I could not find anything relevant in the text book which matches his lectures.
      Finally, I quit the course.



      The same thing happened to my Numerical Analysis course.



      Why don't some professors recommend a text book for a course?






      lecture-teaching-method







      share|improve this question













      I took a semester where a professor was teaching Statistics. He gave out no lecture materials or no name of text books.



      When I asked him for a text book name, he gave me a name of a 1000+ page book.
      I could not find anything relevant in the text book which matches his lectures.
      Finally, I quit the course.



      The same thing happened to my Numerical Analysis course.



      Why don't some professors recommend a text book for a course?






      lecture-teaching-method




      lecture-teaching-method






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










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          3 Answers
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          up vote
          4
          down vote













          For individual courses and professors you need to ask the professor. However, there are a number of reasons why someone might want to make no recommendation.



          Least likely is that the prof feels that any book is as good as any other.



          A bit more likely is that the prof feels that any book is as bad as any other.



          Up the scale a bit is the sense (possibly misplaced) that the prof's lectures are all the student will need. If this is the case, the student's are strongly advised to attend every lecture and take lots of notes. For some this is a valid position if the professor also puts extensive materials online or otherwise makes them available. However, it can also be a trap if the professor thinks that lectures deliver the needed information and skills perfectly to every student. That is a serious error of judgement.



          Another reason is that the prof wants the students to actually seek out answers to questions online or in the (gasp) library. Some professors don't answer questions with answers but with a strategy for finding the answer. This, of course, disadvantages lazy students.



          Still higher on the (my) list is that the course is intended to use active learning and so more passive approaches (reading, watching, listening) are discouraged and the student is expected to do most of his or her learning by doing exercises and projects. For Statistics and Numerical Analysis, this seems to me to be a worthy goal. I find it useful also in much of computer science.



          Given that one learns by practice and reinforcement, this last strategy can be very effective. Active learning gives you an operational knowledge of a subject that reading (or even reading and underlining) a book won't.



          I have, on occasion, "recommended" a book, not for help on the things in the course, but for things that won't be covered. There was no obligation to buy the book. I've also made such recommendations about a pair of quite different books for the same reason.






          share|improve this answer






















          • I totally agree with the "active learning" bit and that is how I work my course (demonstration of method with detail and lots of practise after). plus one from me just for that.
            – Solar Mike
            6 mins ago

















          up vote
          0
          down vote













          Reasons could be anything, down to personality preference. If you had an advanced statistic course, there might not be a book that covers your materials.



          But this is 2018. You have Google, digital library, Amazon... Why can't you do some searching yourself?






          share|improve this answer



























            up vote
            0
            down vote













            Not every Professor is a great Professor. I’ve had great instructors and some terrible ones. You can usually feel them out at the beginning of a course. If the syllabus is all over the place, the organization is lacking, the books don’t match the lectures or provided materials ... it’s safe to say you aren’t with one of the great ones. Unfortunately the only thing you could do is, fight through it or drop the class. You can’t force people to be better Professors. Some have the fire and some don’t.





            share








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              3 Answers
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              active

              oldest

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              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes








              up vote
              4
              down vote













              For individual courses and professors you need to ask the professor. However, there are a number of reasons why someone might want to make no recommendation.



              Least likely is that the prof feels that any book is as good as any other.



              A bit more likely is that the prof feels that any book is as bad as any other.



              Up the scale a bit is the sense (possibly misplaced) that the prof's lectures are all the student will need. If this is the case, the student's are strongly advised to attend every lecture and take lots of notes. For some this is a valid position if the professor also puts extensive materials online or otherwise makes them available. However, it can also be a trap if the professor thinks that lectures deliver the needed information and skills perfectly to every student. That is a serious error of judgement.



              Another reason is that the prof wants the students to actually seek out answers to questions online or in the (gasp) library. Some professors don't answer questions with answers but with a strategy for finding the answer. This, of course, disadvantages lazy students.



              Still higher on the (my) list is that the course is intended to use active learning and so more passive approaches (reading, watching, listening) are discouraged and the student is expected to do most of his or her learning by doing exercises and projects. For Statistics and Numerical Analysis, this seems to me to be a worthy goal. I find it useful also in much of computer science.



              Given that one learns by practice and reinforcement, this last strategy can be very effective. Active learning gives you an operational knowledge of a subject that reading (or even reading and underlining) a book won't.



              I have, on occasion, "recommended" a book, not for help on the things in the course, but for things that won't be covered. There was no obligation to buy the book. I've also made such recommendations about a pair of quite different books for the same reason.






              share|improve this answer






















              • I totally agree with the "active learning" bit and that is how I work my course (demonstration of method with detail and lots of practise after). plus one from me just for that.
                – Solar Mike
                6 mins ago














              up vote
              4
              down vote













              For individual courses and professors you need to ask the professor. However, there are a number of reasons why someone might want to make no recommendation.



              Least likely is that the prof feels that any book is as good as any other.



              A bit more likely is that the prof feels that any book is as bad as any other.



              Up the scale a bit is the sense (possibly misplaced) that the prof's lectures are all the student will need. If this is the case, the student's are strongly advised to attend every lecture and take lots of notes. For some this is a valid position if the professor also puts extensive materials online or otherwise makes them available. However, it can also be a trap if the professor thinks that lectures deliver the needed information and skills perfectly to every student. That is a serious error of judgement.



              Another reason is that the prof wants the students to actually seek out answers to questions online or in the (gasp) library. Some professors don't answer questions with answers but with a strategy for finding the answer. This, of course, disadvantages lazy students.



              Still higher on the (my) list is that the course is intended to use active learning and so more passive approaches (reading, watching, listening) are discouraged and the student is expected to do most of his or her learning by doing exercises and projects. For Statistics and Numerical Analysis, this seems to me to be a worthy goal. I find it useful also in much of computer science.



              Given that one learns by practice and reinforcement, this last strategy can be very effective. Active learning gives you an operational knowledge of a subject that reading (or even reading and underlining) a book won't.



              I have, on occasion, "recommended" a book, not for help on the things in the course, but for things that won't be covered. There was no obligation to buy the book. I've also made such recommendations about a pair of quite different books for the same reason.






              share|improve this answer






















              • I totally agree with the "active learning" bit and that is how I work my course (demonstration of method with detail and lots of practise after). plus one from me just for that.
                – Solar Mike
                6 mins ago












              up vote
              4
              down vote










              up vote
              4
              down vote









              For individual courses and professors you need to ask the professor. However, there are a number of reasons why someone might want to make no recommendation.



              Least likely is that the prof feels that any book is as good as any other.



              A bit more likely is that the prof feels that any book is as bad as any other.



              Up the scale a bit is the sense (possibly misplaced) that the prof's lectures are all the student will need. If this is the case, the student's are strongly advised to attend every lecture and take lots of notes. For some this is a valid position if the professor also puts extensive materials online or otherwise makes them available. However, it can also be a trap if the professor thinks that lectures deliver the needed information and skills perfectly to every student. That is a serious error of judgement.



              Another reason is that the prof wants the students to actually seek out answers to questions online or in the (gasp) library. Some professors don't answer questions with answers but with a strategy for finding the answer. This, of course, disadvantages lazy students.



              Still higher on the (my) list is that the course is intended to use active learning and so more passive approaches (reading, watching, listening) are discouraged and the student is expected to do most of his or her learning by doing exercises and projects. For Statistics and Numerical Analysis, this seems to me to be a worthy goal. I find it useful also in much of computer science.



              Given that one learns by practice and reinforcement, this last strategy can be very effective. Active learning gives you an operational knowledge of a subject that reading (or even reading and underlining) a book won't.



              I have, on occasion, "recommended" a book, not for help on the things in the course, but for things that won't be covered. There was no obligation to buy the book. I've also made such recommendations about a pair of quite different books for the same reason.






              share|improve this answer














              For individual courses and professors you need to ask the professor. However, there are a number of reasons why someone might want to make no recommendation.



              Least likely is that the prof feels that any book is as good as any other.



              A bit more likely is that the prof feels that any book is as bad as any other.



              Up the scale a bit is the sense (possibly misplaced) that the prof's lectures are all the student will need. If this is the case, the student's are strongly advised to attend every lecture and take lots of notes. For some this is a valid position if the professor also puts extensive materials online or otherwise makes them available. However, it can also be a trap if the professor thinks that lectures deliver the needed information and skills perfectly to every student. That is a serious error of judgement.



              Another reason is that the prof wants the students to actually seek out answers to questions online or in the (gasp) library. Some professors don't answer questions with answers but with a strategy for finding the answer. This, of course, disadvantages lazy students.



              Still higher on the (my) list is that the course is intended to use active learning and so more passive approaches (reading, watching, listening) are discouraged and the student is expected to do most of his or her learning by doing exercises and projects. For Statistics and Numerical Analysis, this seems to me to be a worthy goal. I find it useful also in much of computer science.



              Given that one learns by practice and reinforcement, this last strategy can be very effective. Active learning gives you an operational knowledge of a subject that reading (or even reading and underlining) a book won't.



              I have, on occasion, "recommended" a book, not for help on the things in the course, but for things that won't be covered. There was no obligation to buy the book. I've also made such recommendations about a pair of quite different books for the same reason.







              share|improve this answer














              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited 38 mins ago

























              answered 2 hours ago









              Buffy

              16.9k55193




              16.9k55193











              • I totally agree with the "active learning" bit and that is how I work my course (demonstration of method with detail and lots of practise after). plus one from me just for that.
                – Solar Mike
                6 mins ago
















              • I totally agree with the "active learning" bit and that is how I work my course (demonstration of method with detail and lots of practise after). plus one from me just for that.
                – Solar Mike
                6 mins ago















              I totally agree with the "active learning" bit and that is how I work my course (demonstration of method with detail and lots of practise after). plus one from me just for that.
              – Solar Mike
              6 mins ago




              I totally agree with the "active learning" bit and that is how I work my course (demonstration of method with detail and lots of practise after). plus one from me just for that.
              – Solar Mike
              6 mins ago










              up vote
              0
              down vote













              Reasons could be anything, down to personality preference. If you had an advanced statistic course, there might not be a book that covers your materials.



              But this is 2018. You have Google, digital library, Amazon... Why can't you do some searching yourself?






              share|improve this answer
























                up vote
                0
                down vote













                Reasons could be anything, down to personality preference. If you had an advanced statistic course, there might not be a book that covers your materials.



                But this is 2018. You have Google, digital library, Amazon... Why can't you do some searching yourself?






                share|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  0
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  0
                  down vote









                  Reasons could be anything, down to personality preference. If you had an advanced statistic course, there might not be a book that covers your materials.



                  But this is 2018. You have Google, digital library, Amazon... Why can't you do some searching yourself?






                  share|improve this answer












                  Reasons could be anything, down to personality preference. If you had an advanced statistic course, there might not be a book that covers your materials.



                  But this is 2018. You have Google, digital library, Amazon... Why can't you do some searching yourself?







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 50 mins ago









                  SmallChess

                  1,5491820




                  1,5491820




















                      up vote
                      0
                      down vote













                      Not every Professor is a great Professor. I’ve had great instructors and some terrible ones. You can usually feel them out at the beginning of a course. If the syllabus is all over the place, the organization is lacking, the books don’t match the lectures or provided materials ... it’s safe to say you aren’t with one of the great ones. Unfortunately the only thing you could do is, fight through it or drop the class. You can’t force people to be better Professors. Some have the fire and some don’t.





                      share








                      New contributor




                      CodeNamePope is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                      Check out our Code of Conduct.





















                        up vote
                        0
                        down vote













                        Not every Professor is a great Professor. I’ve had great instructors and some terrible ones. You can usually feel them out at the beginning of a course. If the syllabus is all over the place, the organization is lacking, the books don’t match the lectures or provided materials ... it’s safe to say you aren’t with one of the great ones. Unfortunately the only thing you could do is, fight through it or drop the class. You can’t force people to be better Professors. Some have the fire and some don’t.





                        share








                        New contributor




                        CodeNamePope is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.



















                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote









                          Not every Professor is a great Professor. I’ve had great instructors and some terrible ones. You can usually feel them out at the beginning of a course. If the syllabus is all over the place, the organization is lacking, the books don’t match the lectures or provided materials ... it’s safe to say you aren’t with one of the great ones. Unfortunately the only thing you could do is, fight through it or drop the class. You can’t force people to be better Professors. Some have the fire and some don’t.





                          share








                          New contributor




                          CodeNamePope is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.









                          Not every Professor is a great Professor. I’ve had great instructors and some terrible ones. You can usually feel them out at the beginning of a course. If the syllabus is all over the place, the organization is lacking, the books don’t match the lectures or provided materials ... it’s safe to say you aren’t with one of the great ones. Unfortunately the only thing you could do is, fight through it or drop the class. You can’t force people to be better Professors. Some have the fire and some don’t.






                          share








                          New contributor




                          CodeNamePope is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.








                          share


                          share






                          New contributor




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                          answered 1 min ago









                          CodeNamePope

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                          New contributor





                          CodeNamePope is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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