Bookmark Collection

OER has an impact on student learning. The Humboldt State University Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) team at the Library interviewed several faculty about using OER in their courses. Here's what they had to share about the impact using OER has had on their students.

This textbook is being utilized in a wellness and sustainability course for graduate students by Cesar Abarca, Ph.D., at Humboldt State University. The textbook emphasizes small-scale, indigenous, sustainable alternatives to globalization, and offers hope and alternatives for restructuring our economies based on Buddhist principles and personal development. The main motivation to adopt the textbook was to reduce costs for students. Most students purchase the textbook from the bookstore at a nominal cost.

This open textbook is being utilized in a Human Biology course by Christopher Callahan, M.S., at California State University, Humboldt. It provides everyday applications of biology concepts and highlights careers in the biological sciences. Reducing costs for students particularly important as most are non-majors taking it as a general education course was very important. Students can access the textbook at the OpenStax College publisher site in the format that best meets their needs but a PDF of each chapter is also posted in the course management system for easy reference. My motivation for adopting the textbook was to reduce costs for students.

This open textbook is being utilized in a physiology course for undergraduate kinesiology students by Aaron Corcoran, Ph.D., at Humboldt State University. The open textbook provides universal access to high-quality educational materials. The main motivation to adopt an open textbook was to save students money and provide them a variety of ways to interact with course content. Students accessed the open textbook in a variety of ways, including online, on a tablet, and in print.

This open textbook is being utilized in a communication course for undergraduate students by Laura K. Hahn, Ph.D., at Humboldt State University. The open textbook provides is published as a WikiBook and she is one of the authors. The main motivation to adopt an open textbook was to save students money and provide a resource for those people outside the University system who wanted to learn about Communication. Most students access the open textbook online.

This textbook was used in an undergraduate geospatial concepts course by Nicolas R. Malloy, M.S., at Humboldt State University This online resource consists of seven lessons that include the history and fundamental concepts common among all the geospatial sciences. The motivation to use this resource was to ensure that all students, including those with disabilities, have equally effective access to quality learning experiences. Students access the course through the link on the syllabus.

This open textbook is being utilized in a core theatre and film course for undergraduate, primarily freshmen, students by Susan M. Abbey, MFA, at Humboldt State University. This text provides specific approaches on how to create a documentary video using easily accessible recording tools. The main motivation to adopt an open textbook was because this useful text is only available online. All students access the text as a PDF.

This open textbook is being utilized in a human biology course for undergraduate students by Jane Monroe, M.A., at Humboldt State University. The open textbook is easily adaptable and is regularly updated. The main motivation to adopt an open textbook was to provide students with a free, peer-reviewed text. Most students access the open textbook online through the course's Moodle site.

This open textbook is being utilized in a communications course for undergraduate students by Scott T. Paynton, Ph.D. at Humboldt State University. This text offers the opportunity to introduce people to communication as an academic field of study. The main motivation to adopt an open textbook was to provide students with free materials that can be updated on a regular basis by a broad range of people in the discipline, making the text constantly current. Most students access the open textbook online, as it is a Wikibook.

This open textbook is being utilized in a communication course for undergraduate students by Armeda C. Reitzel, Ph.D., at Humboldt State University. The open textbook provides a general foundation in the principles and practices of public speaking and includes multiple examples and samples to support student learning. The main motivations to adopt an open textbook were ease of accessibility and cost. Since my course is 100% online, it made sense to use a textbook that could be accessed online. Most students access this open textbook online.

This open textbook is being utilized in a biology course for undergraduate science major students by Roxann Schroeder, Ph.D. at Humboldt State University. The open textbook provides the same structure and content as a traditional hard copy textbook, but includes links to websites and interactive material that supplement the readings. The main motivation to adopt an open textbook was cost - previous polls of my students showed that a significant number never bought the textbook due to the cost of the traditional hardcover text. Most students access the open textbook online or as a hard copy from the bookstore.

This open textbook is being utilized in a Liberal Studies Elementary Education mathematics fieldwork and seminar course for undergraduate students by Lyn Scott, Ed.D., at Humboldt State University. This book is available as an e-book through the HSU Library website providing students 24-hour access to focal chapters being studied during the weekly seminars. The main motivation to adopt an open textbook was to lower the cost of a textbook for students. Most students access the open textbook through the HSU library website portal.

This open textbook is being utilized in a communication course for undergraduate students by Kimberly Vincent-Layton, M.B.A., at Humboldt State University. The open textbook and an open class blog developed by the instructor provide a foundational component for students to be able to apply public speaking skills. The main motivation to adopt an open textbook was both financial and pedagogical. Most students access the open textbook in PDF format via the campus learning management system.

This open textbook was created by Meredith Williams, Ph.D. and a group of graduate students in the course SOC 590: Practicing Sociology at Humboldt State University. Creating the text gave the students a chance to learn and engage with various methods used in applied sociology. The text is now used in an undergraduate course on Community Action Research, and will be used in future semesters of Practicing Sociology. Students are able to access the toolkit online.