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Worse, we are finding that 50% (sometimes more) of our students don't
even buy the "required" textbook. They hope to save money and assume
they should be able to pass the course simply by coming to the lectures.
They think the only thing valuable in the textbook is the assigned
problems, and they can get those from someone who did buy the book. I
keep telling them it makes no sense for them to spend thousands of
dollars on tuition and room and board, and then risk this investment by
not spending an extra $100 for a textbook.
Book sharing is also common. This is causing me to experience a fair
number of the following student requests...
(1) Could I hand in the problems tomorrow because when I wanted to work
them last night the person I am sharing the book with had the book and
so I didn't have access to the problems.
(2) Can I take tomorrow's exam a day late because tonight is the other
person's night to have the textbook, so I won't be able to study until
tomorrow night.
You are entirely
correct about the book sharing. Some have even asked me for
xerox copies of the homework questions. I give daily
reading quizzes on the material I'm going to cover - I
require them to read it before the lecture. I'll get
comments on the quiz indicated that they were not able to
read the material because they don't have a book - and they
find the quizzes unfair.