OER in Technical Education
Why We Built OER for Technical Programs at South Plains College
In technical education, time matters. So does relevance. Our students aren’t just learning theory — they’re building the exact skills they’ll use on the job next week, next year, and for decades to come. That means our instructional materials must be:
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Up-to-date with changing industry standards
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Aligned to WCGM and state aliged Student Learning outcomes (SLOs)
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Focused on hands-on skill development
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Affordable and accessible for all students
That’s where Open Educational Resources (OER) have allowed us to stack the deck in favor of both our students and our instructors.
How We’re Using OER in Automotive, Welding, Collision Repair, and Culinary
✅ Industry-Aligned Content
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Built directly from ASE, NCCER, I-CAR, OSHA, and other leading standards.
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Flexible to update as new tools, techniques, and models emerge.
✅ Faculty & Industry Collaboration
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Developed in partnership with faculty experts, alumni, and employers.
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Faculty can modify, remix, and improve modules anytime without waiting for publisher editions.
✅ No Textbook Required
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Immediate cost savings for students.
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Materials embedded directly in Blackboard Ultra.
✅ Flexible for Lab-First Instruction
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Safety modules, blueprint reading, diagnostics, tool identification, and basic theory available online.
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Students complete prep work before shop or lab sessions — maximizing hands-on learning time.
✅ AI-Assisted Creation
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We’re using AI tools like Blackboard Ultra, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot to help draft content, generate practice questions, and build module outlines—always reviewed and edited by faculty experts.
✅ Video-Driven Skill Development
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Faculty, alumni, and employers contribute expert-led videos demonstrating real-world skills.
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Student-created video assignments allow for authentic, skills-based assessments.
What Faculty Are Saying:
“OER has made my lab time more productive. Students show up prepared because they’ve already seen the material before I demo it.”
— SPC Welding Instructor
“We can make updates immediately when tools or industry standards change—my students aren’t waiting for a new edition.”
— SPC Automotive Faculty
“Our students aren’t just passing tests; they’re passing certifications and landing jobs.”
— SPC Welding Program Coordinator
Quick OER Wins for Technical Faculty
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✅ Use OER safety modules to prep students before shop time.
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✅ Build quiz banks for reading checks tied to specific tasks.
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✅ Add short alumni/employer videos to help connect classroom learning to careers.
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✅ Replace expensive publisher textbooks with fully customized content.
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✅ Use AI tools to draft content that aligns with your shop or lab needs.
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✅ Embed student video assignments into Blackboard for authentic assessment.
Get Started
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View our OER + AI Creation Template →
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Download our Blackboard Ultra Settings Guide →
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Contact the SPC OER Committee Chair, Dr. Nathan Ragland, Library Director
🎰 OER has allowed us to turn technical education into a sure bet for our students.
More relevance. More shop time. More savings. More success.
