Faculty Showcase — Social Science
Jerry D. Breckon, M.P.A.
from California State University, San Marcos
eTextbook:
American Government
by Timothy O. Lenz and Mirya Holman
California State University, San Marcos
C-ID Course Identification Numbering System
POLS 110 - Introduction to American Government and Politics
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“There were no major challenges in terms of support for switching to an OER textbook. However, as with switching to any new textbook there was a great deal of time (hours) spent preparing new material, syllabus, assessments, and projects to support the new OER text.”
Nerea Marteache, Ph.D.
from California State University, San Bernardino
eTextbook:
Crime and Everyday Life
California State University, San Bernardino
Campus Course
CJUS 470 – Environmental Crime Prevention
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“I adopted this textbook for two reasons. First, I wanted to reduce the cost of the textbook. Second, I thought that the textbook I was using was too complicated for undergraduates, and I was looking for something a little bit easier for them to understand.”
Kurt Kowalski, Ph.D.
from California State University, San Bernardino
eTextbook:
Educational Psychology
California State University, San Bernardino
Campus Course
EELB 317 – Educational Psychology for a Diverse Society
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“The biggest challenge was the lack of ancillary resources; there aren’t any. I had to develop all my own materials which is more time consuming, especially since there is no test bank. I worry a little about the lack of these resources since occasionally adjuncts teach the class and not having ancillary resources will make it more difficult for them.”
Amber Hammons, Ph.D.
from California State University, Fresno
eTextbook:
A Chapter from Attachment Through the Life Course
by R. C. Fraley from Noba
California State University, Fresno
Campus Course
CFS 38 – Life Span Development
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“Affordability is a concern of mine but equally important is finding OER that are high quality, rigorous, and appropriate for college students.”
Chantal Lamourelle, Ph.D.
from Santa Ana College
eTextbook:
Attachment Through the Life Course
by R. C. Fraley from Noba
Santa Ana College
C-ID Course Identification Numbering System
CDEV 100 - Child Growth and Development
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“My main motivation to adopt an open textbook was to reduce the textbook cost for students and to provide more access to courses which are cost prohibitive for some students solely due to the cost of the required text.”
Vera Kennedy
from West Hills College
eTextbook:
Introduction to Sociology
from OpenStax College
West Hills College
C-ID Course Identification Numbering System
SOCI 110 - Introduction to Sociology
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Quote
“The major motivation in adopting this textbook was to save students money, without sacrificing the quality of the content. I was impressed by OpenStax, and I thought I could work with it because the quality was equivalent to published textbooks. We had to get the approval from the curriculum committee, as we all have to use the same book. We can also use the supplements, if desired.”
Eric Strayer
from Hartnell College
eTextbook:
Introduction to Sociology
from OpenStax College
Hartnell College
C-ID Course Identification Numbering System
SOCI 110 - Introduction to Sociology
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“Most of my students are low-income and work full or part-time and I would like to see them put their bucks into a laptop or tablet and have every teacher find them online free or inexpensive books.”
Heather Wylie
from Shasta College
eTextbook:
Introduction to Sociology
from OpenStax College
Shasta College
C-ID Course Identification Numbering System
SOCI 110 - Introduction to Sociology
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“Given the high level of students living at or below the poverty line and first generation college students, I felt it was very important to increase student access to course materials. I found OpenStax through personal research into OER materials that met the needs of my courses.”
Cesar Abarca, Ph.D.
from Humboldt State University
eTextbook:
The Wisdom of Sustainability: Buddhist Economics for the 21st Century
by S. Sivaraska
Humboldt State University
Campus Course
SW 649 – Advanced Generalist Social Work Practice for Wellness and Sustainability
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“Students were very enthusiastic to hear that I replaced expensive textbooks with an affordable textbook and two free online readings. They were also supportive of the idea of having course materials in electronic format that could be downloaded to electronic devices, rather than in paper form.”
Alexandrea Park, Ph.D.
from California State University, Los Angeles
eTextbook:
Boundless Psychology
by Boundless
California State University, Los Angeles
Campus Course
PSY 419 – Psychology of Gender
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“The main motivation for adopting the open textbook was saving students' money. The secondary reason was the ability to customize the book for students' needs.”
Meredith Williams, Ph.D.
from Humboldt State University
eTextbook:
Public Sociology Toolkit
by M. Williams and J. Teal
Go to Public Sociology Toolkit.
More Introduction to Community Action Research Free and Open eTextbooks
Humboldt State University
Campus Courses
CRIM 362 – Community Action Research
SOC 590 – Practicing Sociology
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Quote
“I created this textbook with a group of graduate students (enrolled in SOC 590: Practicing Sociology) to give us a book we could use in research-based courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels.”