Analysis of the utilization of supplementary illustrations: An example of the selected teaching units from the fifth grade geography textbook (Republic of Serbia)

Abstract

The textbook is one of the elementary teaching aids. It is a very efficient aid utilized to transfer information of the instructional content. Illustrations are a part of the didactic apparatus, contributing to apparentness. Contemporary geography textbooks cannot be imagined without adequate supplementary illustrations. Supplementary illustrations should be clear and unburdened by superfluous details. They should be a sort of an addition to the main text and provide the necessary information of the instructional content. In order to acquire a better view of the level of usefulness of supplementary illustrations in learning process, a research was carried out in nine schools. The textbook utilized to analyze supplementary illustrations was the textbook for the fifth grade of primary school. Students were asked about the usefulness of supplementary illustrations in learning new material and in independent learning. Additionally, questions were related to the usefulness of supplementary illustrations in reiterating material as well. Statistical data processing produced results that corroborated the tremendous significance of correctly and properly selected supplementary illustrations in geography textbooks.