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Why Do I Have to Take This Course? [Revised Edition]

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Why Do I Have to Take This Course? A Guide to General Education helps students think about why they take General Education courses and what significance they have, individually and as a program as a whole. It allows students the time to contemplate connections, the potential reasons for developing certain learning outcomes and skills, and the applications to other courses as well as their professional and personal lives. General education is viewed through the lens of what John Lewis called "good, necessary trouble," expanding on how the liberal arts and sciences contribute to understanding and creating change in the world. Sections include stories, research, testimonies and reflections about student success, links to further readings, and activities.

Material Type: Assessment, Reading, Textbook

Author: Kisha G. Tracy

Statistical Problem Sets in WeBWorK

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The authors of this book adapted homework problems to improve accessibility and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the introductory statistics course they teach at Fitchburg State University. The problems are showcased in this book, but we have also incorporated them into our existing problem sets on an open-source online homework platform called WeBWorK. The problems can be used as a companion to the OpenStax textbook "Introductory Statistics" by Barbara Illowsky and Susan Dean or any other textbook for a semester-long introductory statistics course. For a fuller experience for you and your students, we encourage you to contact us for help accessing the problem sets on WeBWorK. On that platform, students will engage more fully with the questions, and a slightly different version of the same problem will be generated for each student.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Homework/Assignment

Authors: Peter Staab, Rachael Norton

Heritages of Change: Curatorial Activism and First-Year Writing [Revised Edition]

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This textbook, Heritages of Change: Curatorial Activism and First-Year Writing, includes principles of writing and information literacy through the lenses of curatorial activism, cultural heritage, and curation/exhibition. Heritage topics that students are introduced to include (but are not limited to): anti-racism, #MeToo, indigenous peoples, women/gender/LGBTQIA+, climate change, etc. They gain a broader understanding of cultural heritage and heritages of change, particularly disability heritage, in general in order to apply the concepts through their writing. This textbook presents these topics, but more specifically how to communicate about and research them. In first-year writing courses, it can often feel that we practice writing and research in a vacuum. Writing is about communication, and, if we do not feel that we have an audience, then it can seem like our writing has no purpose (even though practice of any kind will help us develop these skills). Heritages of Change: Curatorial Activism and First-Year Writing is a method for students to think about the social changes that were prevalent during the COVID years and remain important in their wake. Heritages of Change is a lens for thinking and writing about these ideas. Through curation and exhibition as an act of activism, students focus on a specific audience with whom they can communicate authentically about this dynamic world.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Kisha G. Tracy

The Data Renaissance: Analyzing the Disciplinary Effects of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Beyond [Revised Edition]

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The Data Renaissance delves into the complexities of data's role in various industries and its broader impact on society. It highlights the challenges in investigating data practices, citing examples like TikTok, where algorithms and data handling are closely guarded secrets. The content, contributed by students under the guidance of an expert, covers a wide range of topics, including the ethical aspects of generative AI in education and the workplace, and case studies reflecting real-world experiences. This evolving text, intended to be updated with each class, serves as a dynamic resource for educators and students alike, offering insights and discussion guides for an in-depth understanding of the ever-changing landscape of data in our digital age.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Textbook

Author: J.J. Sylvia IV

Biological Psychology [Revised Edition]

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Biological psychology is the study of the biological bases of behavior and mental processes. It explores how biological factors like genes, hormones, neurotransmitters, and brain structures influence psychological components like thoughts, emotions, memories, and actions. This free and open textbook provides a wide ranging and up-to-date introduction to the main topics and methods of biological psychology.

Material Type: Textbook

Authors: Michael J. Hove, Steven A. Martinez

Writing WeBWorK problems in a Differential Equations Class

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This was an assignment in a junior-level Differential Equations class at Fitchburg State University.  It was also part of an Open Pedagogy group in which all participants produced materials for a class in an Open Pedagogy sense.  The goal of the group was twofold: 1) to learn what open pedagogy is, both in the general sense as well as in one's particular academic field and 2) to develop an Open Pedagogy assignment in a current or future class.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: Peter Staab

Geomorphology Assignment

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This was an assignment for students in two parts: (1) for a given week, students sign up for a landform that pertains to the processes we’ll be studying (e.g. landslides, streams, volcanoes, etc…). The student will use wikipedia, govt. agency websites, or primary sources to present a “show and tell” of the landform including 4 things: a) describe the process by which that feature is formed, b) give an example of where it can be found, c) find 3 pictures of the landform, & d) sketch (or find a depiction) of what the feature would look like on a topographic contour map. (2) Students will take their presentations and use them to create pages on a Google Sites webpage that will become an online textbook. Students will be able to use the book to study for quizzes on the landforms. (3) Students will read and leave comments on 2 other students’ pages to provide constructive feedback to help improve the textbook’s content and readability. Learning Objectives: Students gain oral and written communication skills by presenting and documenting/sharing their research. Students will describe the shape of landforms and connect landforms with the processes responsible for their formation by learning from each other and from doing their own research.

Material Type: Homework/Assignment

Author: Reid Parsons

Introduction to Communication and Media Studies

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"Introduction to Communication and Media Studies" is an in-depth exploration of how communication shapes our world. This book traces the historical evolution of media, from the early days of the printing press to today’s digital age, examining key developments such as the telegraph, radio, television, and the internet. It also covers critical theories that explain media’s impact on society, including the effects of advertising, the role of public relations, and the emergence of social media as a powerful force in modern communication. Chapters on media literacy, critical thinking, and rhetorical analysis help students develop critical skills for understanding and analyzing media messages.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: J.J. Sylvia IV

The Basics of Health, Wellness, and Fitness

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This book is written for anyone who could benefit from learning more about health, wellness, and fitness. Throughout the text, readers will learn about health and wellness, setting goals, physical activity and exercise, cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance, body composition, flexibility, nutrition, stress management, as well as self-care and sleep. In addition to providing important information about the above topics, the text also includes self assessment assignments and self-reflection opportunities. It is the aim of the author that readers increase their understanding regarding the idea that we are all dealt different hands in life, and we all have our history and our own experiences, but one thing we all have in common is that we can start now from wherever we are and make small changes to improve our health, wellness, and fitness.

Material Type: Full Course, Reading

Author: Jessica Alsup