Word Net

workbook n : a student's book or booklet containing problems with spaces for solving them

Moby Thesaurus

Domesday Book, abecedarium, abecedary, account book, address book, adversaria, album, alphabet book, annual, appointment calendar, appointment schedule, battledore, blankbook, blotter, calendar, casebook, cashbook, catalog, classified catalog, commonplace book, court calendar, daybook, desk calendar, diary, diptych, docket, engagement book, exercise book, gradus, grammar, hornbook, journal, ledger, log, logbook, loose-leaf notebook, manual, manual of instruction, memo book, memorandum book, memory book, notebook, pad, petty cashbook, pocket notebook, pocketbook, police blotter, primer, reader, schoolbook, scrapbook, scratch pad, speller, spelling book, spiral notebook, t, table, tablet, text, triptych, writing tablet, yearbook

English

Noun

1. A book used by a student in which answers and workings may be entered besides questions and exercises
2. A book, used by a business, containing a record of work to be done, or work completed

Workbooks in the American education system, are cheap, paperback textbooks, issued to students. Workbooks are usually filled with practice problems, where the answers can be written directly in the book.

Advantages

Workbooks are often used in schools for younger students, either in middle school or elementary school. They are favored because students can work directly in their books, eliminating the need for looseleaf and copying questions from a textbook. In industry, they may be customized interactive manuals which are used to help provide structure to an otherwise complex problem.

Workbooks also hold an advantage because they are usually smaller and lighter than textbooks, which equates to less trouble when the student brings the book home to complete their homework.

Other Uses

The term workbook is also used to describe other compilations of questions that require the reader to complete scratch-work when dealing with higher-level mathematics. It can also be used as a training tool for certain job positions.

More recently, electronic workbooks have permitted interactive and customized learning. Such workbooks may be used on computers, laptops, PDA's, and may be web-based.