Re: Book REview

[dave@gte.net]

sxc@itd.dsto.gov.au wrote:
> 
> In article <3190CEC1.5799@io.com>, Dave Jones  <davedave@io.com> wrote:
> >Personally, I think that it is wise to make a textbook culturally specific.
> >The use of culturally specific examples helps to hold student attention and
> >makes for a superior textbook.
> 
> That is a matter of opinion ...
> 
> Outside of the USA, I'd expect culturally non-specific examples to be
> marginally more interesting to CS1 students ... and substantially less
> grating!
> 
> If I had been an American undergraduate, I might be irritated by the
> suggestion that my attention span was so short that I needed to be
> pandered to with culturally specific examples.  As an Australian
> undergraduate, I certainly would have been!

I suspect that your Australian students are a little bit more disciplined than
our American students.  Sadly, the short attention span of the typical
American student is something that teachers here must deal with.  I am very
pleased to say that I no longer teach at the college level.  

> 
> >Perhaps, Mr. O'Keefe should contact
> >Addison-Wesley about creating an Australian edition.  For that matter, I
> >would think that the Australians are perfectly capable of writing their
> >own textbook.
> 
> Richard is not stupid.  He knows that it would be a waste of time.
> And you should realise this too ... given your next paragraph.

Actually, it probably would not be a waste of time:  A-W would not risk any
sales in the American market by creating a special "Australian edition" --
or a special "International edition".  Also, I have seen several good 
programming textbooks come out of Australia, so I would certainly encourage 
any Australians who want to write an introduction to Ada book.  (Incidentally, 
any "Australianisms" in the book would probably help to hold the students' 
attentions here in the U.S..  For some reason, we Americans are fascinated 
by Australia.).

> 
> >Mr. O'Keefe also needs to realize the economics of the situation.  Australia
> >has a tiny population (about 18 million) and a trivial GDP (about US$340
> >billion).
> 
> Gee thanks ... it's >>so<< nice to have a non-Australian imply that my
> country is trivial!

If it makes you feel better:  I think that Australia's GDP per capita is higher
than ours.

> 
> >It would be very very unwise for Addison-Wesley to risk a position in the US
> >market in order to increase their position in the Australian market.  I
> >would not expect there to be any changes in the book until people in larger
> >countries start complaining.
> 
> While the market for Australianised Ada books is obviously tiny, the
> market for Internationalised Ada books is huge.  Australia, Canada,
> India, New Zealand, South Africa, UK, much of continental Europe,
> South East Asia, Africa, etc.

Agreed, but like Feldman said in one of his posts, the first edition
has been out for several years, and no-one has complained until now.  It would
seem that his Americanisms do not bother most people.  

Nevertheless, I do partially agree with you and Richard:  Either Addison-Wesley 
should publish special non-American editions or Feldman should add some
footnotes for the international editions explaining the Americanisms.  However, 
I do *not* think that he should alter the editions being sold in the U.S. (except,
of course, the errors should be corrected).
  
-- Dave Jones
davedave@io.com