Algebra Textbooks Come Up Short In Project 2061 Review

By Kathleen Kennedy Manzo

Washington

Several of the most widely used algebra textbooks provide an inadequate framework for teaching the mathematical system and have little potential for helping students learn it, a study released last week concludes. Most others, though adequate, have major shortcomings, it says.

The review of 12 textbooks is the latest conducted by Project 2061, an initiative of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, to improve mathematics and science education. Seven of the books have the potential to help students learn algebra, the evaluators determined, while five were found to have little potential to do so.

"Algebra is a 'gatekeeper' course for many students and the key for going on to learn higher mathematics," George D. Nelson, the Project 2061 director, said in releasing the results here last week. "But the vast majority of students aren't learning algebra, due in large part to the nature of instruction used by teachers...