scholarly journals No textbook cost general education pathway: an effort to increase retention at Central Washington University

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 503-522
Author(s):  
Maura Valentino ◽  
Geri Hopkins

Purpose This study aims to describe a project that aims to give students a choice to complete their general education requirements without purchasing a textbook. Design/methodology/approach In total, 26 faculty, teaching in the new general education curriculum, at Central Washington University were given stipends to eliminate expensive textbooks and use free to the student resources such as open educational resources (OER) or library resources. The data was collected on student savings and student and faculty satisfaction with the program. Findings Many paths were created through the general education curriculum, so a student may easily finish these requirements without purchasing a textbook. The data from this case study coincide with the literature on the subject. Faculty found it fairly easy to replace their required textbooks with pedagogically sound, free resources. Students were relieved to have some financial relief and found the resources to be good. The student’s biggest complaint was that faculty often use very small portions of expensive required textbooks. Research limitations/implications This is a case study and the results are limited as such. This is one university and one general education curriculum. Also, if an academic library wants to replicate this case study, some funding is required. Practical implications Students struggle financially and alleviating the costs of textbooks is one-way librarians can ease that burden. Social implications Students struggle financially and alleviating the costs of textbooks is one-way librarians can ease that burden. Originality/value There have been some case studies written about OER, where 8 or 10 courses are replaced. There are studies written about zero-textbook-cost degrees at community colleges, but this case study explores a textbook-cost-free general education program at a state university.

Author(s):  
Syadidul Kahar ◽  
Muhammad Irsan Barus ◽  
Candra Wijaya

The purpose of this study was to find out the role of the Darusaa'dah Islamic Boarding School in the Pangkalan Susu District of Langkat in the Form of Santri Character The approach used is case study. The object of this research is religious Islamic education institutions. Data sources are people who are directly and indirectly involved with pesantren. To collect these data, the author uses several techniques in data collection, namely documentation, observation and interviews. Data analysis in research uses interpretive patterns that aim to achieve a correct understanding of facts, data and symptoms. In this study researchers focused on two curricula, namely the pesantren curriculum and the general education curriculum. used in the Darusa'dah Islamic Boarding School which is related to character formation. The Darusaa'dah Islamic Boarding School curriculum accommodates students who focus on learning two curricula, namely the pesantren curriculum and the general education curriculum. The pesantren curriculum material taught is sourced from the yellow book which includes; religious laws, monotheism, morals and Arabic. The education curriculum of the Darusaa'dah Islamic Boarding School is focused on the teaching of the Koran, hadith and the books written by the previous ulama. Educational material is presented based on class. The pesantren curriculum and general education curriculum are taught in the Darusaa'dah Islamic Boarding School, as well as forming the character of the santri.


2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 265-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Gunter King

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to share a compelling example of a library’s willingness to develop and design itself as an open-ended process. Design/methodology/approach – The case study provides a historical review of the library’s founding design, and an overview of the process and approach to redesign. The study contextualizes the library within current academic library research and literature. Findings – This paper explores the research, engagement and planning process behind the library’s exploration of new models and service configurations. The project was an engaged, inclusive, transparent, library-led process. The commons reestablishes the library as the “nerve center” of the campus. Originality/value – The paper offers an update to a 1969 report, and later book by Robert Taylor on the Harold F. Johnson Library at Hampshire College, designed as a prototype of an academic library. This paper will be of value to academic librarians, administrators, and historians.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Miller

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to offer and explore innovative strategies for building and sustaining digital initiatives at information organizations. Although the examples provided are based on case studies at an academic library, the practices are rooted in project management principles and therefore applicable to all library types, museums, archives and other information organizations. The innovative strategies on staffing and funding will be particularly useful to organizations faced with monetary and staffing shortages and highlights collaborative management practices. Design/methodology/approach Concept of strategic and collaborative management practices led by an experienced project manager cross-trained in management, technical and soft skills enables the successful development and sustainability of digital initiatives. A cross-trained librarian’s management practices of leading the Digital Scholarship Initiatives at a particular university will be examined as a case study and aided with literature supporting the need for digital initiatives leaders to have training beyond the credentials of librarian, curator, archivist or historian in the technologically savvy twenty-first century ecology of information centers. Findings The innovative strategies implemented in the case study yielded increases in the number of hours of digital lab usage, digital projects developed, seminars or workshops presented, attendance of library hosted events, number of programs implemented and awareness on campus, all with limited staff and funding. The variety and level of production and marketing is instrumental to the growth and sustainability of digital initiatives. Practical implications The innovative strategies emphasized in this paper use the concept of borrowed or shared time to start staffing needs and is particularly helpful to organizations that do not have a strong line of dedicated staffing or funding to begin building digital initiatives. Offers small ways to start immediately while setting the stage to plan for big ideas for the future. Originality/value This paper suggests a credentialed information expert, such as a librarian, archivist or curator, that is, also cross-trained in project management and technology is the key to not only successfully leading digital initiatives but is instrumental for its sustainability and the marketing, growth and future of digital initiatives.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 154-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Walter

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore ways in which “library value” may be communicated in a university setting through more effective engagement with strategic planning and a broader array of campus partners. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a case study of an academic library in which alignment with the university mission and strategic plan and alignment of library assessment efforts with the broader culture of assessment at the university have resulted in positive gains for the library in terms of campus engagement and recognition of library value. Findings This paper provides insights into successful strategies for improved communication of library value to senior leadership, new investment in library facilities, and enhanced opportunities for collaboration across the university on strategic initiatives including student success, innovation in teaching and scholarship, and community engagement. Originality/value This paper provides library leaders with new approaches to engagement with campus partners and senior academic leadership in promoting the library as a strategic resource worthy of investment in the twenty-first century.


2021 ◽  
pp. 026461962110293
Author(s):  
Ying-Ting Chiu ◽  
Tiffany Wild

The Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) is a set of concepts and skills that are taught to students with visual impairments to support their learning that often occurs incidentally with vision. Students with visual impairments must learn both the ECC and content from the general education curriculum, including science. Thus, it is crucial to incorporate these two sets of curricula so that students with visual impairments can learn both sets of curricula more efficiently. This article presents an analysis of science curricula and lesson plans that support the Next Generation Science Standards while promoting teaching skills to students with visual impairments in the ECC. The results show that the ECC can be incorporated into science easily which will allow the ECC and science to be taught in one lesson.


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