US History 130 (History 7A/271)

About the Textbook

US. History

Description:  

U.S. History is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of most courses. The authors introduce key forces and major developments that together form the American experience, with particular attention paid to considering issues of race, class, and gender. The text provides a balanced approach to U.S. history, considering the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the United States from both the top down (politics, economics, diplomacy) and bottom up (eyewitness accounts, lived experience).

Senior Contributors:

• P. Scott Corbett - Ventura College
• Volker Janssen - California State University-Fullerton
• John M. Lund - Keene State College
  
• Todd Pfannestiel  - Clarion University
  
• Paul Vickery - Oral Roberts University
  
• Sylvie Waskiewicz - Lead Editor

Formats: 

The book is available in several formats, including online and PDF. One can also purchase a printed copy for $52.

Supplemental resources: 

OpenStax College has compiled additional resources for students and faculty that directly coincide with the book, from online homework tools and interactive study guides to faculty-only resources.

Peer reviews: 

The book has been reviewed by a faculty member from the CCC, one from the CSU, and one from the UC within the California higher education systems. There is also an Accessibility Evaluation.

Cost savings:  

Using the various versions of this books saves the students $100 or more compared to comparable textbooks.

Accessibility and diversity statement: 

The textbook comes in a downloadable free PDF version or a version that is readable online.

License: 

Textbook content produced by OpenStax College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

About the Course

History 7A at Ventura college and 

History 271 at California State University Channel Islands

Description:  

Give description of course utilizing the course catalog at the educational institution if available.

Prerequisites: None

GE credit: 3 units transferrable and degree applicable]

Syllabus available here: 

Learning outcomes:

For the History 7A version of this class taught at Ventura College the Student Learning Outcomes are as follows:  

1.  Students will demonstrate an understanding of the effects of time and place on shaping and molding the human experience.   

2.  Students will appraise the significance of specific people, places and events in understanding the larger trends and themes of history.   

3.   Students will assess and/or evaluate the causes and effects of trends and historical developments over time.  

For the History 271 version of the class at California State Channel Islands students takeing the course should be able to 

1.  Evaluate corporate and technological growth in the United States. 
2. Consider the correlation between economic growth and the rise of immigration.
3.  Explain the social and political complexities of ethnic urban communities. 
4. Compare and contrast labor unions. 
5. Demonstrate the varieties of Progressive social reform. 
6. Organize and express clearly the different approaches of Progressive political reform. Understand the affects of international conflict on the history of the United States. 
7. Describe the various movements for Civil Rights in contemporary America 
8. Assess the dynamics between liberal and conservative administrations, policies, and political activity since 1877. 

At both institutions the students in the class are primarily seeking General Education credits towards their graduation.  

Curricular changes:

Explain any curricular changes made to the course as a result of the open textbook adoption.

Teaching and learning impacts:

Collaborate more with others: Yes
Use wider range of materials: Yes
Student learning improved : Unsure
Student retention improved : Unsure
Any unexpected results: Greater engagement with the reading assignments

Sample assignment:

1.  Read an assigned chapter and take the "check for understanding quiz"  

2.  Seek and find linkages between the assigned chapter and the document reader deployed in the class or other primary source documents assigned

3.  Discuss the relevance of the historical material with similar or comparable events and trends in contemporary American society 

Textbook Adoption

OER Adoption Process

My main motivation was to save students money and to give them a quality textbook that they coud access electronically.  I supplement the textbook itself with document readers and/or other primary source materials

Student access: 

They can download a free PDF of the book, read it online or purchas an inexpensive hard copy of it. 

Student feedback or participation:

No feedback yet

P. Scott Corbett, M.A.

I am a History professor at both Ventura College and California State University Channel Islands. I teach a full range of American, Western Civilization and World History courses at both institutions.

I chose to refer to myself as a Learning Partner as that more adequately expresses the roles I seek to embrace here at Ventura College. I want to learn, facilitate learning, assist and promote learning in all of my endeavours here at the college -- the classroom, my interaction with students and my collegial relationships. I seek to be a partner -- an equally seeking soul -- in all my relationships because there is always something to be learned from everyone and every situation and hopefully there is something I can contribute to the learning processes of others.