Engineering Solutions for Everyday Life: Implementing OER in Advanced College Rhetoric at Texas Tech

Presenter Information

Callie F. Kostelich, Texas Tech UniversityFollow
Baxter Krug, Texas Tech UniversityFollow

Presentation Type

Lightning Talk

Location

Zoom

Start Date

16-4-2024 1:40 PM

End Date

16-4-2024 2:00 PM

Description

This presentation explores the redesign of ENGL 1302: Writing for Engineering, an advanced college rhetoric course at Texas Tech University that is specifically tailored for engineering majors and minors. Focused on the integration of technical communication, rhetoric, and engineering principles, the semester-long project aims to equip students with the skills necessary to identify, research, and develop engineering solutions for everyday problems. By reshaping the curriculum to embrace Open Educational Resources (OER), our goal is to normalize the use, development, and implementation of OER in and around the classroom.

We will briefly explore our approach to curriculum revision, focusing on our decision-making process. We will delve into the rationale behind select assignments and highlight how they contribute to the overarching goal of fostering effective communication and documentation in the engineering field. Specifically, we will discuss the transformation of traditional assignments such as problem descriptions, elevator pitches, project proposals, literature reviews, and/or progress reports to incorporate OER principles.

Moreover, we will outline the expected outcomes of this redesigned course, emphasizing the enhancement of students' technical and communicative skills, as well as their understanding of project documentation and open-source contribution. By providing students with the opportunity to publish their project documentation with an open license or navigate the patent application process, we aim to instill a culture of open development and intellectual property management within the engineering domain.

Through this presentation, attendees will gain insights into the practical implementation of OER in engineering education, paving the way for broader adoption and integration of open access frameworks in academic settings.

Author Bios

Dr. Callie F. Kostelich is an assistant professor in the Technical Communication and Rhetoric program at Texas Tech University, where she also serves as the Writing Program Administrator for the First-Year Writing program. Her research interests include writing program administration, first-year writing, alternate assessment practices, and rural literacies. Her recent publications can be found in Peitho, Open Words, and Food Justice, Activism, and Pedagogies.

Baxter Krug, a PhD student in Technical Communication and Rhetoric, is an Assistant Director of First-Year Writing. With a background in chemistry, education, and technical communication, Krug focuses on breaking down barriers to technology and communication. Their expertise spans patent writing and reviewing and revising open-source documentation. Currently, they're dedicated to securing funding for sustainable and accessible Open Educational Resources (OER), driven by a passion for educational equity and empowerment.

Creative Commons License

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