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Durh&m teacher writes
new computer ~extbook
by Gabriella Bnccia Chronicle 1tair
Computer programing is not an euy
thing to learn, eo Bob Bell, a Durham
College teacher haa written a new book
which attempts to bring simplicity to many
fruatrated students.
Bell said, "I started writing the book in
the fall of 1981. It is an academic textbook
about bow to program computers, written
specifically for beginnera."
Bell's book. "Programing in Basic The
First Steps," wu published by Prentis Hall
Publishing Company. It waa written for
sb.ldents at a high school leve~ or an
introductory college level Bell said, "When
writing the book. I made the assumption
that people know nothing about computers."

Business teacher Rick Hird
-pboc.o by Luc;y l\1bb

liob Bel~ 41 yean old, has been a
teacher at the college for 10 yean. He
teaches data proceaaing to firat, second
and third year sb.ldenta. He also teaches a
math course to firat year legal office
administration students.
Bell has been working on his book for
the past two years. He said, "I did not have
to do a lot of research. Most of the book was
based on experiences I picked up from
teaching over the years."
nu.a was Bell's first attempt ever at

writing a book. He said, "I ~ted writing
when I was younger."
Bell decided to write the book because
he didn't feel that most of the books on the
market were written in such a way that the
students could understand them. "I wanted
to write a book that would be more easily
understood by the people," explained Bell
Bell said, "I enjoy.d writing the book. I
would like to write a sequel to this book
someday."
Bell aent his book to three publishers
before Prentice Hall decided to publish it.
Bell said, "The publishing companies wanted
me to write out a chapter or two of r1ly book.
my ideas for the book, and why I thought
this book would sell Then the publishing
company reviews this infonnation, and
decides whether or not they are interested in
publ.i8hing it."
"Programing in Basic The First Steps,"
is alread.Y on the market. It will be available
in the Durham College library and book·
stores within the next couple of weeks. Bell
said, "They are marketing my book all
across Canada and poasibly in the United
States. So far, we have had one sale for 250
copi to a computer store somewhere in
South Africa."

Economics teacher writes
student oriented textbook Library, cafeteria expansion
by Lucy Rybka Chronicle ataff
Baftled by foreign terminology?
Stroggling to get throu&h. least of all underatand your textbook? II your answer is yes
and you're taking economics. business
tet.cher Rick Hird has the answer for you.
Hird, 36, who teaches economics to
first, second and third year business students
at Durham College has recently written a
textbook entitled, "Working With
Economics.," which he cummUy instJUcts
hia classes with.
"I felt the books we had available for us
for the economics programs were not suitable
for what the college student needed. Most of
the textbook.a are aimed at high school or
university sb.ldents," explained Hird.
Hird says the emphasis in textbooks
has to be more practical and easier to read.
"I think in a lot of disciplines people t1y to
make them sound a little more complicated
than they are. I t1y to make it easier."
Upon writing the text Hird explained
that he did ao more for the students than for
the instJUctora, "I didn't really want a book
that would impress the instructor aa much
as I wanted the student to read and get
something out of it."
Working With Economics is Hird's first
book. Hird spent 15 months writing the
book and it wasn't until 21 months that the
book was completely finished.

So when did Hird find the time to do all
this work while teaching fUU.time at the
college? "You give up a lot. You commit
your time. You have to give up·a lot of nights
and weekend.a," he replied.
Prior to his teaching position at
Durham College for the past seven years
Hird worked for the provincial and federal
governments.
Both eerved as a good writing experience, for he wrote a number of studies and
reports while employed there.
While at the provincial government for
five years he did a number of jobs which
mainly included researcher and policy
analyst.
While at the federal govenunent Hird
worked as an evaluation officer for two
years. He did "evaluations of govenunent
programs to see that they were doing what
they should be doing; meeting their objectives."
Also while working for the government,
Hird taught economics at AtJcinaon College.
Hird left his job at the governments to
teach at Durham College. He said he was
tired of working for the govenunent. "There
was a lack of incentive, a lack of motivation
The general environment was pretty dei>
ressing." said Hird.
Working With Economics is publ.i8hed
by Collier. Macmillan, the sixth publ.i8her

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approeched about publiahinc

Hird'a
text boOlr.. The firat three
publiahera,
Hi.rd himaelf cont.
acted; the nert three contacted
him. One pubtiaher rejected the
book; the othera were conaidering it.

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Collier Maanillan wu aimpty the fut.eat in ICCeptinf hia
tut. "I think a lot or thoae other
publiahera had 1 book that
would be in competition with
thia, whereu Collier Macmillan
didn't reel.ly have an eccnomica
book that wu in competition
with thia market 11\ere WU a
part or thia book market they'd
like to aerve," explained Hird.
So
the tat haa aold
about 2,800 copiea and the pu~
ita first year. Seven collepa in
Britiah Columbia are u.m, the
text and aeven in Ontario (includini Durham Collep). It ia aJ.o
on an accepted lilt. .. circular 14"
for hilb achoola. "We'll at.art
alow and Me what happena,"
ea.id Hird.

w.

causes student inconvenience
because
of colder weather
by Nell Y•n GroothMat Chronltle
at.ff
The library and cafeteria expansion
projects are slightly behind schedule says
college president Mel Garland. Garland
added that he hoped that the foundation for
the library would be laid before winter sets
in
Both the library and cafeteria are being
expanded by 3,000 square feet to alleviate
the overcrowding problem here at the college.
Coat for the projects haa been set at $1. 1
million
The construction is having an irla'eping
impact on the students because the temporary walls that Nive been erected do not
adequately insulat.e against the cold. Additional heaters and insulating tape have been
installed, but they do not complet.e)y eolve
the problem, Garland said.

Garland intends to make available a list
of rooms where students can cany on their
eum studies. II any complaints are received
from students, additional measures will be
t.ken to enaure that conatruction areu an
wann enough, he said.
These comment.a wei:e made at the
Nov. 9 meeting of the Board of Govemora.
In other business at the meeting. board
member Nigel Schilling said that he didn't
"want to see the Peer Assistance Program
die because of lack of funding." Garland
added that because Conestoga College has
a Peer Assistance Program, "they are able
to retain a greater number of sb.ldenta."
Garland said that Peer Aasiatance was
worthwhile and that it should be considered
carefully.