Track Session Type

The Value of Open Creation: OER Creation & Management, Copyright, Licensing, and CC 101, Instructional Design and Ed Tech for OER, Open Pedagogy

Presentation Type

Presentation

OER Level of Expertise

Intermediate

Audience

Faculty, Librarian, instructional designer, Administrator

Session Abstract

We will demonstrate the development of our custom virtual microscope that supports course learning objectives of multiple biology courses by allowing students to view slide specimens and practice microscopy skills outside the classroom. Additionally, we will describe the tool’s integration into an Open Source Repository of the Open Textbook Collaborative.

Objectives of the Session

  1. How to work in an interdisciplinary manner to create an OER that uses computer programming to replicate common lab processes and procedures used in multiple biology lab classes.
  2. Learn best practices around working collaboratively across disciplines to program a complex tool for integration into an open source repository.

Full Description of the Session

The session will introduce the creation of a custom, virtual microscope that serves as an Open Educational Resource (OER) for college-level biology courses. The virtual microscope was developed as an interdisciplinary collaboration between faculty members of the Biology and Chemistry Department and Information Technologies Department at County College of Morris (CCM), Randolph, NJ. It is a product of the Open Textbook Collaborative (OTC), a New Jersey Higher Education program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The virtual microscope is an open source, functional, easy-to-use interface integrated into the project’s OpenNJ OTC repository. It contains slides that reflect the curriculum needs of several biology courses at CCM. It seamlessly supports course learning objectives (i.e., Use appropriate laboratory tools and techniques to examine anatomical structures or physiological functions) and may replace the need for students to purchase a microscope as part of a required laboratory kit in online courses. The Virtual Microscope allows online students to practice and hone microscopy skills that they otherwise would not have the opportunity to access as online learners. All students, regardless of modality, will have the ability to view specimens relevant to course content and practice microscopy skills outside of the classroom. This makes the virtual microscope an important study tool for student success. Additionally, as two of the goals of the sponsoring grant are to disseminate and sustain an OER ecosystem across NJ and surrounding states, we will discuss the additional planning and programming needed to incorporate the virtual microscope into OpenNJ.

Presenter Bios

Presenter 1

Name: Dorothy Salinas

Email: dsalinas@ccm.edu

Phone: 973-328-5375

Dorothy Salinas is an Assistant Professor of Biology in the Biology and Chemistry Department at County College of Morris (CCM), Randolph, NJ. The primary courses she instructs are Concepts in Biology (BIO 132) and Biology of Environmental Concerns (BIO 127) and she serves as the co-advisor of the CCM Environmental Club. Salinas has obtained a B.S. in Biology from The College of New Jersey, M.S. in Biology from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and is currently enrolled in an Ed.D. in Educational Sustainability program at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. In addition to the Open Educational Resource (OER) Virtual Microscope, Salinas has developed a low-cost, online option for non-major students to satisfy their 4-credit general education science requirement. Cost was limited by the implementation of an OER textbook and the elimination of a required laboratory kit. Students complete hands-on laboratories, at home, utilizing common household items.

Presenter 2

Name: Caitlin Burns

Email: cburns@ccm.edu

Phone: 973-328-5373

Caitlin Burns is the Chairperson of the Biology and Chemistry Department and an Assistant Professor of Biology at County College of Morris (CCM), Randolph, NJ. Burns holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Rowan University and a M.S. in Molecular Biology from Montclair State University. The primary courses she instructs are Anatomy and Physiology I and II (BIO 101, BIO 102). Burns has taught courses in face-to-face, hybrid, and online course modalities. She continually investigates ways to increase student success in anatomy and physiology courses.

Presenter 3

Name: Eric Guadara

Email: eguadara@ccm.edu

Phone: 973-328-5773

Eric Guadara makes games. He also makes seltzer, pickles, music, shoe racks, and more. He rides his road bike when he can. He studied Poetry and Film at Rutgers, Teaching at Seton Hall, and Game Design at LIU Post. He currently teaches all of the Game Design courses at County College of Morris in New Jersey and is happy to be a part of the OER Microscope team. When he’s not in front of >= 1 screen, he’s spending time with his family and friends, preferably in the sun.

Publishing Permission

1

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Start Date

26-5-2022 2:00 PM

End Date

26-5-2022 2:30 PM

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May 26th, 2:00 PM May 26th, 2:30 PM

Interdisciplinary OER Development: Virtual Microscope

The session will introduce the creation of a custom, virtual microscope that serves as an Open Educational Resource (OER) for college-level biology courses. The virtual microscope was developed as an interdisciplinary collaboration between faculty members of the Biology and Chemistry Department and Information Technologies Department at County College of Morris (CCM), Randolph, NJ. It is a product of the Open Textbook Collaborative (OTC), a New Jersey Higher Education program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The virtual microscope is an open source, functional, easy-to-use interface integrated into the project’s OpenNJ OTC repository. It contains slides that reflect the curriculum needs of several biology courses at CCM. It seamlessly supports course learning objectives (i.e., Use appropriate laboratory tools and techniques to examine anatomical structures or physiological functions) and may replace the need for students to purchase a microscope as part of a required laboratory kit in online courses. The Virtual Microscope allows online students to practice and hone microscopy skills that they otherwise would not have the opportunity to access as online learners. All students, regardless of modality, will have the ability to view specimens relevant to course content and practice microscopy skills outside of the classroom. This makes the virtual microscope an important study tool for student success. Additionally, as two of the goals of the sponsoring grant are to disseminate and sustain an OER ecosystem across NJ and surrounding states, we will discuss the additional planning and programming needed to incorporate the virtual microscope into OpenNJ.