WVU Libraries

West Virginia University Libraries and the Teaching and Learning Commons (TLC) have selected three faculty members to receive Open Educational Resources (OER) grants. This year’s recipients are Erin Jordan, teaching assistant professor and program coordinator for health and well-being, College of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences; Mandy Weirich, MSW online program coordinator, Gerontology program coordinator and clinical instructor, School of Social Work; and Adrienne Williams, assistant professor, Department of Biology, WVU Institute of Technology.

“We’re so excited to continue our Open Educational Resources grant program and help WVU students spend less money on their books and other materials,” Grants Committee Chair Martha Yancey said. “This cohort of grant recipients will provide good models for other faculty to learn from and consider during next year’s grant process. We hope to continue building momentum toward even bigger savings in the future.”

The aim of the grants is to encourage development of alternatives to high-cost textbooks, lower the cost of college attendance for students, and support faculty who wish to implement new pedagogical models for classroom instruction. Awardees agree to use their open textbooks in courses to be taught in fall 2021 or spring 2022, and then submit a course review/report.

Jordan is developing OER materials for PE 224 Enhancing Health and Well-being. In this course, students will explore the eight dimensions of wellness, and the prevention of chronic disease. This course will have a special focus on the Appalachian region.

Williams is focusing on OER materials for WVU Institute of Technology’s Anatomy and Physiology course sequence beginning in Spring 2022. Typically, this sequence of courses serves freshman-sophomore students who are enrolled in the Nursing program and undergraduates who are interested in healthcare careers.

Weirich worked to create a newly designed Child Welfare Continuum online course at the School of Social Work. This course was redesigned with both Open Education Resource materials and low-cost materials for students. Students taking this course will use their acquired skills when working with children and families in the field of social work, specifically in the Child Welfare discipline.

As part of the grant, awardees will also:

• Write a final grant report summarizing the accomplishments and challenges of their experience using the materials as well as the impact on their teaching and student performance. 

• Participate in at least one faculty interview or focus group.

• Participate in assessment of the grant program, including surveying students.

• Deposit any openly licensed materials they create, including syllabus, into an appropriate open repository (e.g. the Research Repository @ WVU).

• License developed materials with an appropriate Creative Commons license of the grantee’s choice. 

• Present posters of their experience during Open Education Week, March 2022, and deposit posters in the Research Repository @ WVU.