Welcome to the OpenLab-OER faculty support guide for City Tech’s Model Course Initiative. This initiative provides professional development support for faculty creating and using openly available, fully developed instructional resources shared on the OpenLab. If you are interested in creating or using a model course, please contact the OpenLab Team.

A Model Course…

  • is an openly available, fully developed web-based instructional resource containing course info, learning outcomes, suggested weekly topics and projects, video resources, quizzes, rubrics, grading policy, and more.
  • can be cloned and adapted (with attribution) by other faculty teaching the course on OpenLab or as a pedagogical resource for faculty using Blackboard or other systems for their online course space.
  • is created by the course coordinator and/or faculty member(s) with subject matter expertise.
  • is identified with a Department Model badge on the OpenLab.
  • is considered an open education resource (OER). An OER uses a Creative Commons license which lets others edit and remix the material.
  • has been reviewed by the course coordinator or Department Chair.

Why use a Model Course?

  • To provide students with access to high-quality course content for a unified approach to distance, hybrid, and in-person teaching.
  • To ensure continuity of curriculum.
  • To reduce redundant work for Course Coordinators and teaching faculty.
  • To promote the use of best practices and consistent approaches using web-enhanced course materials and methods.
  • To encourage the use of open educational resources and open pedagogical methods to equalize access to educational materials.
  • To lower barriers to entry for faculty who have less experience with technology and digital pedagogy.