LARGO, Md. (June 28, 2019) -- Open Educational Resources (OERs) have been around for some time , but it wasn’t until recently that Prince George’s Community College (PGCC or College) began to more widely promote and implement OERs into courses known as Z-courses, or courses that do not require material textbooks and other learning resources that students must purchase. In addition to making the cost of college more affordable, OERs help create environments where students have access to high-quality learning experiences through collaboration and co-creation.
Chemistry Professor Nadene Houser-Archield has been using OERs since 2005 and is one of few faculty members utilizing OERs in the Natural Sciences Department at the College. She said that textbooks are too static and that students don’t gain as much from them as they do from interactive activities and watching videos. To ensure that students retain the information she teaches, she creates exercises and videos using SoftChalk, a content and e-learning authoring tool provided to faculty at the College. She’s found that it’s a combination of those resources and activity-based classroom work that really make the information connect for students.
In spring 2019, the College announced that it would offer 29 Z-courses. That number has increased and there are plans to offer more. More offerings would greatly affect how students are able to pursue their educational goals at the College by eliminating external barriers such as affordability and cultivating experiences that require students to work together and strengthen their thinking skills – skills that are important in all career industries.
Textbooks offer a traditional learning model, but don’t necessitate engagement nor steer students to think in a way that Houser-Archield has observed of her students enrolled in courses with OERs.
“The best thing for me is that they learn how to think scientifically.” Houser-Archield continued, “. . . at the end you do see a difference. They’re not just coming out memorizing facts.”
Despite the perceived value of OERs and Z-courses, the time that goes into creating OERs may deter some faculty from transitioning their courses. “It takes time to make the exercises and videos,” she said. “You’re writing the scripts and putting it all together.”
The good thing is that OERs do not have to be an individual endeavor.
“I would like to see faculty collaborate because it’s too much work for one,” Houser-Archield said. She believes that the value for students outweighs the cons for professors and is interested in working with other faculty to create value all around – not just for students, but also for faculty. “If an entire department collaborated to create some good material, I think we would be at the top . . . people would be coming to PGCC to ask us how to teach.”
About Prince George’s Community College
Named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security (2015-2020), Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) provides high-quality education and training for the progressive and career-oriented residents of Prince George’s County. From new high school graduates and career seekers to more seasoned professionals and senior citizens looking to enhance their skillsets, PGCC is comprised of students who represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and goals. Serving nearly 40,000 individuals annually, the college is the first choice for higher education for residents of Prince George’s County. Collaborative partnerships, responsive degree and training programs, and a commitment to student success enable PGCC to address diverse education and workforce development demands. For more information, visit the college website at www.pgcc.edu. Prince George’s Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267-284-5000); www.msche.org. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
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