Faculty Showcase: Science and Technology
Learn how faculty are adopting free and open etextbooks in their courses. The faculty describe the etextbook they are using, the course they are teaching – sharing their syllabus and teaching strategies, and how they have adopted and integrated the free and open etextbook into their course. Many faculty describe their students' responses to using the etextbook as well.
Wendy Riggs from College of the Redwoods, CA
eTextbook: Concepts of Biology by OpenStax College
Course Description:
An introductory course in life science dealing with basic biological concepts including molecular and cell biology, metabolism, heredity, evolution, ecology, natural history, and biodiversity.
Note: This course is designed for non-science majors and nursing/health occupation students. Not open to students who have completed or who are currently enrolled in BIOL-3.
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"With the arrival of Concepts of Biology, it suddenly became much easier to use OER! Once we adopted Concepts of Biology, we were able to create a customized copy of the text and order printed copies. Our bookstore was incredibly supportive of our efforts to reduce student cost."
Suzanne Wakim from Butte Community College, CA
eTextbook: Introduction to Biology for the Open Learning Initiative
Course Description:
Students will develop an understanding of important current issues by understanding the biological principles. Biological principles include: the scientific method; biological macromolecules; cell structure and function; cell division; genetics; DNA structure and function; metabolism; evolution; and ecology. Issues covered may include: the nature of science, nutrition, stem cells, cancer, genetic diseases, cloning, genetic engineering, gene therapy, nature versus nurture, ecological diversity, invasive species, sustainability, and the role of humans in the environment.
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"When I surveyed students about the traditional publisher textbook found that roughly half the students selected to buy the paper text, but many of these students ended up using both the paper text and the OER. Student commented that they appreciated the option, and I have kept these two options in my class since."
Delmar Larsen from University of California, Davis
eTextbook: UC Davis Chemwiki
Course Description:
Periodic table, stoichiometry, chemical equations, physical properties and kinetic theory of gases, atomic and molecular structure and chemical bonding. Laboratory experiments in stoichiometric relations, properties and collection of gases, atomic spectroscopy, and introductory quantitative analysis.
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"We have mapped the ChemWiki curriculum to the Petrucci, Herring. Madura, et.al 10th edition as part of the NSF Grant. This mapping can help adopting faculty to understand the navigation through ChemWiki from a previously used traditional textbook."
Ron Rusay from Diablo Valley Community College, CA
eTextbook: ChemWiki Diablo Valley College
Course Description:
An introduction to the fundamentals of chemistry including the topics: atomic theory, chemical reactions, bonding, structure, stoichiometry, gases, solutions, redox, thermochemistry, equilibrium, and acid-base chemistry.
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"I became involved with ChemWiki about three and half years ago during its first year of development. My interest in OER is for the pedagogical improvements that it makes possible. Students in my chemistry classes are very well-prepared to go on to the next level."
Marusa Bradac from University of California, CA
eTextbook: College Physics by OpenStax College
Course Description:
This course is physics for nonscientists, and focuses on the survey of basic principles or a deeper exploration of some particular branch. Topics include black holes, space time, and relativity; physics of music; history and philosophy; energy and the environment; and natural phenomena.
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"Saving students money was the main motivation for adopting the open textbook. Also there was no specialized textbook for teaching Physics of California and this textbook had a lot of everyday examples.The open textbook was incomplete for my course but all textbooks are so I supplemented it with external materials."
Zvonko Hlousek from California State University Long Beach
eTextbook: College Physics by OpenStax College
Course Description:
Year course in introductory physics for non-majors. First semester considers properties of matter, mechanics, wave motion, and heat. Second semester considers electricity, light, and atomic and nuclear physics. Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hrs, laboratory 3 hrs.)
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"It's very simple what motivated me to adopt OER. A publisher physics textbook fully bound is $250, a loose leaf book is $150, and the e-book is $120 or more. OpenStax College Physics is free to students online so the numbers tell the story."
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