Grant program: Open Educational Resources Grant Program

Grant recipient: Andrew Perkins, Department of Geography

Project team: Matthew Watkins, research assistant

Timeframe: June 2019 to September 2021

Funding: $4,090

Course addressed: GEOG 111 – Earth Systems

Description: For this project, we propose to streamline the textbook resources for the current course by developing a set of discrete, concise, Just-In-Time (JIT) readings meant to graphically and textually introduce significant terminology and concepts immediately before lecture. These resources will be sourced from a variety of current textbooks and online resources, and will include links to further readings, videos, experiential learning activities and resources allowing self-selection in the depth to which materials are explored for specific topics. The JIT resources will be backstopped by an on-reserve textbook available in the library and the best currently available open educational e-text for introductory physical geography. JIT resources would be included in a printed copy of the current lab manual for the class (something students already purchase for use in the class), transferring the manual into more of a central resource for the course and linking lecture/lab more closely. and would also be available online through CANVAS, along with other weekly lecture resources.

References:

Hippensteel, S. P. (2015). Assessing the readability of geoscience textbooks, laboratory manuals, and supplemental materials. Journal of College Science Teaching, 44(6), 24-29.

Kortz, K. M., Grenga, A. M., & Smay, J. J. (2017). Establishing and Applying Literature-Based Criteria for Effective Communication of Science to Novices Via Introductory Geology Textbooks. Journal of Geoscience Education, 65(1), 48-59.

Knowledge sharing: As much as possible, materials included in the JIT resources will be openly licensed CC material. After assessing resources and running them in the established course environment, resources will be shared through SFU’s Summit repository and published to BC Open-Campus as a textbook-like resource (currently BC open campus does not have an introductory textbook offered in Physical Geography).

Keywords: Just-in-time resources, open educational resources, first-year geography students, earth systems