My Textbook Challenge

[Gene2memE]

And if I deviate in my assignments, examinations, labs/practicals, tutorials, course work and other assignments, I'll be judged accordingly.

Is this correct?

Can you define "deviate" in this regard?

In my experience - admittedly limited to economics and history degrees - no university level course requires rote answers from any particular textbook. Profs/lecturers want you to understand the fundamentals and then apply that understanding in response to novel questions.

It's immaterial what source a student draws on for their understanding of the fundamentals of molecular biology or cell biology. They could channel learning straight from the ghosts of Crick and Watson. What matters is that the understanding is there and can be demonstrated and applied.

 

[jacks]

Can you define "deviate" in this regard?

I know you're not asking me, but this is what he may mean.

Let's say the textbook has the following passage:
Biologists study the living world by posing questions about it and seeking science-based responses. Known as scientific method, this approach is common to other sciences as well. The scientific method was used even in ancient times, but England’s Sir Francis Bacon (1561–1626) first documented it. He set up inductive methods for scientific inquiry. The scientific method is not used only by biologists; researchers from almost all fields of study can apply it as a logical, rational problem-solving method.

The student then gets a multiple choice question (Yes, they still used at times in college, they are easiest to grade and they are conveniently provided by the text book publisher...) That asks:
Who is accredited with setting up inductive methods of scientific inquiry? Sir Francis Bacon is one of the choices, but you select "None of the above" because you think it is Ibn al-Haytham. Now if you have a very open minded and lenient instructor (which is rare.) you may be able to make the case, however initially since you deviated from the text you will be marked wrong.

I believe that is what he means. He will correct me if I'm wrong, because one thing AV is not, is timid.

 

[AV1611VET]

I believe that is what he means. He will correct me if I'm wrong, because one thing AV is not, is timid.

Thank you, jacks!

Correct you are!

You are a gentleman and a scholar!

(And I mean that in the good sense too! )