Hello louis2, Textbooks can be really tough. We have had similar challenges in finding the "right" fit for a textbook. I do see some really great options coming down the pike though. Many of the publishers have gone to what I would consider a "flex" type of publishing. We can select chapters from many of the various textbook offerings and have them custom print and bind a book containing just the chapters that we desire(from that particular book, no inter-mixing that I am aware of). There are some number limitations to this method, but I believe that we can order as few as 25 and have this implemented. There have been other options that allow for online access and download capabilities for specific topics/chapters. These are very economically priced and can serve a number of differing interests. The chapters are typically in a PDF type format.

I don't know how much you have noticed this, but we have often found that various textbooks are somewhat area specific. I mean that they are geographically based and some or a lot of the information in them has application for differing parts of the country than we are located in. We don't really know how to address that sort of thing other than to say that we have decided, in these cases, to look to alternative books or sources.

Another source that you should look at is the AWS "SENSE" system of textbooks, if I am not mistaken it is somewhat of a pick-and-choose system and thus you can customize how you implement it. I don't have much personal experience with this, however.

One final thought for you, Lawrence is a member of the forum here and is also a co-author of welding textbooks. Drop him a line and pose this question to him I am very sure that he can give you some great direction for addressing your concerns/questions. Best of luck and regards, Allan

"I want to challenge my students without making the class too complicated."

Man! Isn't that an oxymoron or what?
Well, the question I have for you is this... At what grade do the students start their welding classes? And then from there, you should be able to determine the level of exposure to the frequently used terminology related to welding by asking the other teachers that the students have also on how complicated their course work is... Next step would be to review the SENSE based text books available like Allan previously mentioned if you choose to go that route (There's also (NCCR). And from there, you should be able to determine which book out of the few available would suit the students in your class... Sounds simple enough eh? In reality that's not always the case... Do you have a course outline and syllabus you work from? Do you already have lesson plans ready for your welding class? If you do, then you need to find a book that suits mainly what your course outline and syllabus consist of.. And it doesn't always have to follow the book in it's entirety because, you can simply amend both to be written so that the topics covered are also included in the book you choose....

If you don't have to adhere to any specific topics listed, then once you have amended the course outline and syllabus to correspond to the book, then you would have to revise you lesson plans accordingly also... I haven't taught in a few years because of my health being as it is, I was forced to retire but, I do remember quite a few books out there that were somewhat suitable for High School students and if I'm not mistaken, usually the intellectual level of the students that elect to take up welding is inconsistent to say the least...

Lincoln Electric has a wonderful system to teach secondary and even post-secondary students Welding Technology, and they use the Lincoln Electric tried and true "Welding Bible" to compliment the CD based program... Then there should be something available @ the AWS website under education, but it's been a wile since I visited so you may want to take a look yourself to see what they have available for secondary level students... There's also the AWS online courses available to check out also to use in augmenting the subject matter by topic...
I'll list the books I have used over the years I taught (a total of16 yrs on and off) a little later because right now I have to go and prepare my dinner so when I'm finished with that, and doing whatever else I need to do, I will post a list also for you to review because I'll also include links to the publishers as well as what I have been able to find in Google books too... I'll be back in a few hours and post up some good books to review... I need to gather my list together and go through my bookmarks to put together something just for you... In the meantime, you may want to look for Lawrence's post which I'm sure he will add his own consistently excellent resources as well for you to review.

Respectfully,
Henry

When I was a HS student in welding I never noticed a better or worse book. The interest that was generated in welding kinda caused me to look at all that my teacher had. We used one from Giachino, Weeks, and Brune (I think as I pulled that ooutta my head) but I remember lusting after his "Jeffersons Welding Encyclopedia" and the AWS Welding Handbooks.

I think a the Books from the James F Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation are awesome. Are they "textbooks". Maybe not in the sense of modularized powerpoint presentation cool graphics books of today.

I sincerely believe there are tremendous free resources on the internet that can augment any classroom text to encourage engagement of students interested in welding. And there are not any materials that will change the view of those that don't without the proper encouragement and guidance.

I think the challenge comes from the application of whatever you have and the "complication" results from the presentation. I am not stating that is your problem or that you even have one. I am a babe when it comes to teaching and have a tendancy to "show up and throw up" whenever it comes to welding. So even with something simple, I may "over complicate".

I like the NCCER books I purchased but after looking at the Jeffus/Bower book http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/search/9781435427884 . The NCCER books have some interesting info too.

Sorry if I didn't help you much. I could probably be asking you for suggestions. Thanks for sharing the trade for 19 years !

Have a good day

Gerald