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The first of many SMP college publishing division's student focus groups was a groundbreaking success!

In keeping with Saint Mary's Press college publishing division's firm resolve to listen to and partner with today's instructors and students and our sincere promise to stay close to our intended audiences and strive hard to meet their needs, we have initiated a unique tool: the student focus group. Our meetings with students have proven incredibly educational for us, and satisfying for the students involved.

In our first focus groups, our intention was to listen to what students truly feel about today's textbooks--and we heard them loud and clear. The students were thoughtful, thoroughly engaged in the conversation, strikingly intelligent, and constructively critical. Just what we were hoping for and more!

"Can you tell us," we asked, "about your experience with textbooks?" Their responses were illuminating, and we have already taken their comments to heart. The following are typical of some of the comments we heard.

"Integrate some readings to expand our knowledge on the subject."

"Authors should point out the implications of what the student is reading."

"A balance of views is really important . . . show more than one approach"

"Many textbooks do not have a high opinion of students. Treat us intelligent creatures; do not be condescending to us in textbooks."

The students have engaged in debate about learning styles and what is "essential" to theological study--and what they liked and disliked about the design of existing texts and pedagogical tools. They have also tested our titles during the development of the books and have helped direct us to questions we should consider in future student focus groups and class tests.

Saint Mary's Press college publishing division also holds instructor focus groups along these same lines, as a part of our strategy to fully engage instructors in shaping our publishing program.

Join us! We're interested in your thoughts and opinions.