Pedagogical Elements
Now that we have considered common textbook structures, we can look at the pedagogical elements often used in textbook design. These elements are designed to provide context, overview, motivation, review, and other useful functions for learning. They are usually found within chapters or sections. They can be organized into three categories: 1) openers, 2) closers, and 3) integrated pedagogical devices.1
Openers
Openers are pedagogical elements that come before the main content. Their role is to lead the learner into the content and provide motivation or a preview. For example:
Examples
- Learning objectives (LOs)
- Introduction/Overview paragraph(s)
- Focus questions
- Thought-provoking quote/Image
- Short case study or example
Closers
Closers are pedagogical elements that come after the main content. Their role is to help learners review or reinforce their learning. Closers aim to help students summarize, review, or practice what they have learned. Example include:
Examples
- Key takeaway statements
- Key terms list
- Review questions
- A section/chapter summary
- Self-assessment
- Audio/visual interactive element
Integrated Pedagogical Devices
Integrated pedagogical devices are elements incorporated into the main content. For example, each chapter in a mathematics textbook might include:
Examples
- a “Biography” element that highlights the biography and accomplishments of a famous mathematician.
- a “Case Study” element that illustrates the concepts by describing a real-world application.
- vocabulary words in bold.
- illustration of geometric figures or graphs.
Often, these pedagogical elements are highlighted through design. For example, biographies may always appear inside a text box, accompanied by a photo. This visually distinguishes the pedagogical elements from the other content and makes the element recognizable through consistent use in each chapter, section, etc.
“Structuring a Textbook with Pedagogical Elements” from Open Textbook Publishing Orientation (PUB 101)Modules by the University of Minnesota is offered under a Creative Commons Attribution license
