To reduce the cost of educational materials needed by students, we generated a no-cost open educational resources (OER) textbook for an undergraduate level cell biology course. Cell biology is part of the curriculum in various undergraduate degrees for science, technology, engineering, and math majors, therefore generation of OER targets a large population of students. In addition to cost reduction, we unified the textbook content with course learning outcomes to ensure that the students have a clear understanding of course goals. To assess student perceptions of OER materials and their experiences related to learning outcomes, surveys were administered to students enrolled in sections of cell biology using a traditional textbook and those enrolled in sections using the OER. Data showed positive student attitudes about learning, accessibility, and cost of OER, supporting the use of no-cost OER in undergraduate classrooms and beyond.
Supporting Instruction in Cell Biology Using No-Cost Open Educational Resources
REBECCA HIGGINS is an assistant professor of biology at Georgia Gwinnett College.
BREEN RILEY is a student research assistant at Georgia Gwinnett College.
JENNELL TALLEY is an associate professor of biology at Georgia Gwinnett College.
ALESSANDRA BARRERA is associate professor of biology at Georgia Gwinnett College.
JENNIFER HURST-KENNEDY is associate professor of medical sciences at Agnes Scott College.
SHOSHANA KATZMAN is director and associate professor of medical sciences at Agnes Scott College.
Rebecca Higgins, Breen Riley, Jennell Talley, Alessandra Barrera, Jennifer Hurst-Kennedy, Shoshana Katzman; Supporting Instruction in Cell Biology Using No-Cost Open Educational Resources. The American Biology Teacher 1 December 2023; 85 (9): 493–499. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2023.85.9.493
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University of California Press