Instructional Resources

Resources of the Month

OPEN EDUCATION RESOURCES

The National Science Foundation Resource Center for Material Science Technology Education (MatEdU) provides hundreds of free lessons for enhancing community college materials technology programs. The searchable digital library includes modules containing presentation materials and lab instructions in both English and Spanish. For example, see Encapsulation & Controlled Release: Macrocapsules and Encapsulación y Liberación Controlada: Macro Cápsulas.

TEACHING TECHNIQUES

In “Unbounded by Time: Understanding How Asynchronous Video Can Be Critical to Learning Success,” BYU professor Richard West shares research supporting the case for using asynchronous video discussions more often in our teaching practice. While synchronous video discussions (via Zoom, Teams, Google Meet) most closely mimic the classroom “face-to-face” experience, they also can be inconvenient and exhausting. West outlines the benefits of incorporating asynchronous video and provides examples of how to use it.

RELIEVING STRESS AND BUILDING RESILIENCE

To be candid, the personal, financial, family, and work stress related to the COVID pandemic has not yet abated and continues taking a toll on nearly everyone at your college—and at everyone else’s college, too. You could even call it a nationwide stress pandemic. Recognizing this issue, the NIH has issued Your Healthiest Self: Emotional Wellness Toolkit, a set of cards reminding us about practices for improving and maintaining good mental health.