OER at City Tech

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New and Noteworthy OER 12/17

New and Noteworthy is the City Tech Library OER Team’s monthly roundup of notable open educational resources. We try to include at least one open resource relevant to each school at City Tech in every post. At the end of the month, these resources will be compiled and distributed by the library liaison for your department. Please contact us if you know of new or particularly interesting OER to share with our colleagues or would like more information about open educational resources initiatives at City Tech.

Architecture

  • The Design of the Built Environment: The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Campus and Its Context, by Kevin J. Hinders, Windsor & Downs Press (2025). License: CC BY-NC
    “Kevin J. Hinders’s The Design of the Built Environment offers an exploration of the architectural, cultural, and historical development of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus and its surrounding context. Structured around thematic walking tours, the manuscript examines architectural principles and then uses the campus and its surroundings to illustrate the concepts. It delves into the evolution of public spaces, technical design considerations, and the influence of local, regional, and national planning.”

Biological Sciences 

  • Applications of Control Charts for Quality Improvement in Health Care, by Jerome Niyiora, SUNY Polytechnic Institute (2020). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This textbook introduces students to the application methods of control charts to improve quality in health care. The textbook is written to be accessible to any student in the areas of health information management, health care informatics, and health care industrial engineering. Additionally, samples of a Python code are included and can directly be accessed in a Jupyter Notebook at https://github.com/JeromeNN. This textbook is not meant to be a comprehensive manuscript regarding quality improvement in health care. Instructors and students can supplement the chapter reading with additional resources, such as those referenced in the bibliography section of this text. The reader is also encouraged to consult a complementary textbook by the same author, titled Basic Tools for Quality Improvement in Health Care Informatics.” 

Business 

  • The Business Behind the Business: An Introduction to Supply Chain Management, by Evan Barlow; Francois Carrier; Hugo Decampos; Ben Neve; and Shane Schvaneveldt, Weber State University (2025).
    License: CC BY-NC-ND
    “The Business Behind the Business: An Introduction to Supply Chain Management is a relatively non-technical introductory resource into the field of operations and supply chain management. While it was developed as a textbook for sophomore-level business students, it can easily be adapted to teach advanced high school courses. While this book was written to serve the function of a textbook, anyone wanting to learn more about improving business performance would benefit from reading this book.”

Career & Technology Teacher Education 

  • Teaching Methods & Practices, by Jason Proctor, Online Consortium of Oklahoma (2025). License: CC BY
    “This book is intended to serve as a resource for novice teachers as they master the art of effective classroom management, assessment, and lesson planning. At the undergraduate level, this book is designed to accompany the instruction in the EDUC 4353: Secondary Teaching Methods & Practices course before the full-internship experience. Each chapter presents a component of the teaching and learning process critical for teacher development and describes how that component is relevant to the classroom.”

Computer Systems Technology

  • Beyond Coding, by David Tuffley, Griffith University (2025).
    License: CC BY-NC
    “In today’s competitive IT industry, technical skills alone are no longer enough to succeed. This book teaches essential soft skills that transform technical professionals into complete IT leaders. You will master clear communication for diverse audiences, build strong teams through collaboration and conflict resolution, and solve complex problems with structured thinking.”

English 

  • Technical Report Writing Guidelines, by Leah M. Akins, Milne Open Textbooks (2023). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This document specifies the recommended format to be used when submitting a formal technical report in a variety of disciplines and purposes. Also, this manual can be used as a guide to compose less formal reports, such as lab reports, that may consist of a subset of the items presented here. It is a useful general guide from which faculty can specify the particular requirements for reports in their courses. Now in its eleventh iteration, the text was updated in July 2023 to include guidance on the use of AI in technical writing.” 

Hospitality Management

  • Applied Accounting for Hospitality, by Jangwoo Jo (2025).
    License: CC BY-NC
    “Applied Accounting for Hospitality equips hospitality majors and industry practitioners with the financial literacy required to make sound managerial decisions in hotels, restaurants, event venues, and related services. The resource emphasizes interpretation and application over manual bookkeeping: learners read financial statements, compute and analyze ratios and key performance indicators (KPIs), forecast demand and revenues, prepare budgets, and evaluate internal controls to safeguard assets and improve performance. Technology-enabled accounting (e.g., PMS/POS integrations and consolidated reporting platforms) is treated as the default operational context throughout.” 

Human Services 

  • Human Services Practicum, by Yvonne M. Smith, Open Oregon Educational Resources (2025). License: CC BY
    “This interactive and inclusive human services text assists diverse students in applying theory to practice in a variety of field settings including public and private nonprofit organizations as well as governmental agencies. The text is intended to accompany students’ fieldwork experience and covers the stages of an internship experience, the ethics and challenges of being an intern, as well as effective use of supervision. Each chapter includes student learning objectives aligned with the Council for Standards in Human Services Education (CSHSE). Special focus is given to diverse learning styles and experiences, the variety of service settings, and services across cultures. Each chapter is accompanied by a compilation of activities to help students and instructors get the most out of their reading. These activities include journal prompts, self-care activities, class discussion topics as well as suggested assignments.” 

Mathematics 

  • Representation Theory, by Jan Grabowski, Open Book Publishers (2025). License: CC BY-NC
    “This volume offers a fresh and modern introduction to one of abstract algebra’s key topics. Guiding readers through the transition between structure theory and representation theory, this textbook explores how algebraic objects like groups and rings act as symmetries of other structures. Using the accessible yet powerful language of category theory, the book reimagines standard approaches to topics such as modules and algebras in a way that unlocks modern treatments of more advanced topics such as quiver representations and even representations of Hopf algebras and categories. Aimed at undergraduate students with prior exposure to linear algebra and basic group theory, the book introduces categories early and uses them throughout, providing a cohesive framework that mirrors current mathematical research. Though technically sophisticated, it also includes examples and exercises designed to develop intuition and understanding.” 

Mechanical Engineering Technology

  • Introduction to Machining, by Micky R. Jennings, D.M. Donner, and Tim A. Bacon, Washington Open ProfTech (2025). License: CC BY
    “Introduction to Machining is authored by experienced professionals from the machining industry who are now educators in Washington State. This book offers a diverse and practical perspective, drawing on the authors’ firsthand knowledge and expertise. Students will benefit from comprehensive insights into industry practices, real-world applications, and the foundational concepts essential for success in the field.”

Nursing

  • Introduction to Healthcare Professions, by Anita Hedlund; Brandon Censon, Christine Malone, Karen Piette, Katie Baker, and Kristen Hosey, Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges (2025). License: CC BY
    “Introduction to Healthcare Professions aims to act as a guide to community technical college students navigating the healthcare world for the first time. Our approach is meant to provide context to a diverse and dynamic field. We hope that learners will feel empowered to make the leap into a specific path or specialty based on the careers we have outlined.”
  • Human Development for Healthcare Professionals, by Jamie Peterson, Press Books (2025). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This book provides an overview of lifespan developmental tasks, covering physical, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects from a psychological perspective. It explores the various stages of human development, discussing the key challenges and milestones encountered at each stage. It also includes foundational research and theory on health psychology, motivation and psychological disorders, as well as how health and identity intersect. This book is intended for students planning to pursue a career in healthcare.”

Radiologic Technology & Medical Imaging 

  • Introduction to Healthcare Professions, by Anita Hedlund; Brandon Censon, Christine Malone, Karen Piette, Katie Baker, and Kristen Hosey, Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges (2025). License: CC BY
    “Introduction to Healthcare Professions aims to act as a guide to community technical college students navigating the healthcare world for the first time. Our approach is meant to provide context to a diverse and dynamic field. We hope that learners will feel empowered to make the leap into a specific path or specialty based on the careers we have outlined.”

City Tech OER team:
Cailean Cooney, Assistant Professor, OER Librarian: ccooney@citytech.cuny.edu Joshua Peach, Adjunct OER Librarian: jpeach@citytech.cuny.edu
Jo Thompson, Adjunct OER Librarian: jthompson@citytech.cuny.edu
Sara Sarmiento, Adjunct Reference and Instruction Librarian

New and Noteworthy OER 02/21

New and Noteworthy is the City Tech Library OER Team’s monthly roundup of notable open educational resources. We try to include at least one open resource relevant to each school at City Tech in every post. At the end of the month, these resources will be compiled and distributed by the library liaison for your department. Please contact us if you know of new or particularly interesting OER to share with our colleagues or would like more information about open educational resources initiatives at City Tech.

Architectural Technology

  • Multimodal Transportation Planning, by Peng Chen, Tia Boyd, and Kristine Williams, Mavs Open Press (2024). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “Multimodal Transportation Planning introduces readers to the principles and practice of integrated land use and transportation planning. The primary focus of the textbook is on planning for the mobility needs of all transportation system users, with an emphasis on pedestrian, bicycle, automobile, and transit modes.”

Electrical/Telecommunications Engineering Technology

  • Introduction to Neuroengineering, by Mercedes Terry, Abigail Tubbs, Blair Dupre, Brandon Fugger, and Enrique Alvarez Vasquez, University of North Dakota (2024). License: CC BY-NC-ND
    Introduction to Neuroengineering serves as a comprehensive guide to the fast evolving field at the intersection of neuroscience, engineering, and technology. This book covers foundational concepts like neuron structure, action potentials, and neural modeling, moving through advanced topics like brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), neurostimulation, and imaging technologies (EEG, MEG, fMRI). Each chapter combines theory with practical exercises and lab examples, accessible through a GitHub repository to enhance hands-on learning. Aimed at students, educators, and professionals, this resource offers a foundation and inspiration for innovation in neuroengineering, promoting ongoing exploration in this impactful field.”
  • Semiconductor Physics: Theory and Experiments. With applications to Diode, Light Emitting Diode, Transistor, and Solar Cell, by Sven Tougaard, University of Southern Denmark (2025). License: CC BY
    “In 2005, I was asked to give a course in semiconductor physics for physics and engineering students that includes both theory and experiments. I could not find a textbook that met the constraints for the course which was a 4th semester course in semiconductor physics for physics and engineering students some of them with no knowledge of statistical mechanics. Existing textbooks are either too simplistic and do not include a comprehensive physical model description of semiconductors which must include a basic amount of both statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and solid-state physics.”

English

  • Frankenbook, edited by David H. Guston, Ed Finn, and Jason Scott Robert, Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University / MIT Press (2018). License: CC BY (except where noted)
    “Frankenbook is a collective reading and collaborative annotation experience of the original 1818 text of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. The project launched in January 2018, as part of Arizona State University’s celebration of the novel’s 200th anniversary. Even two centuries later, Shelley’s modern myth continues to shape the way people imagine science, technology, and their moral consequences. Frankenbook gives readers the opportunity to trace the scientific, technological, political, and ethical dimensions of the novel, and to learn more about its historical context and enduring legacy.”

Health Sciences

  • Maletín Médico: Intermediate Spanish for Healthcare Professionals, by Giovanni Zimotti and Alexis Jiménez, University of Iowa (2024).
    License: CC BY
    “This OER is intended for intermediate Spanish language learners in the health professions. It contains concise, interactive lessons and exercises on grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, specifically tailored to the needs of professional learners in healthcare.”

History

  • Burning Issues in Classics, by Rhiannon Evans and Nicole Gammie, La Trobe University (2024). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This volume addresses various ways that we interact with, refashion and reuse aspects of ancient Greece and Rome. Its studies range from the political engagement of Italian fascists with ancient Rome, to the use of ancient Greece in video games. The chapters each take on a ‘burning issue’ of identity or ownership, that is, how we identify with ancient Greeks and Romans, as well as drawing (often troubling) elements of our identity from them.”

Mathematics

  • The Cree Dictionary of Mathematical Terms with Visual Examples and Sound, 3rd Edition, by Arzu Sardarli and Ida Swan, University of Regina (2024). License: CC BY
    “The Cree Dictionary of Mathematical Terms with Visual Examples and Sound provides Cree equivalents of 176 mathematics terms and their definitions in English. The visual examples mainly contain Indigenous elements. Audio pronunciations of the Cree terms are provided. The audio was voiced by an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper. The Dictionary was reviewed by Elders, Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and Cree-speaking educators.”

Nursing

  • Community and Public Health Nursing: A Call to Action, by Andrea Reed, Beth Tremblay, Chloe Gross, Felisa Smith, Gretchen Wiersma, Jamela M. Martin, Judith Rogers Fruiterman, and Roy Brown, George Mason University/VIVA Open Publishing (2024). License: CC BY
    “Community and Public Health Nursing: A Call to Action is a primer exploring the diverse roles of community and public health nurses through a social justice lens. Students will gain the fundamental knowledge and skills to work with community members and other stakeholders to promote health and well-being and to prevent disease. This textbook examines key issues such as health disparities, access to care, cultural competence, and the impact of social determinants on public health outcomes.”

Psychology

  • Lifespan Development, by Diana Riser, Rose Spielman, and David Biek, OpenStax (2024). License: CC BY
    “Lifespan Development aligns to the topics and objectives of most introductory developmental psychology courses taught across departments. Grounded in foundational theories and scientific research, the text teaches students about core aspects of human development—physical, cognitive, social, emotional—across the lifespan. A primary goal of the book is to incorporate content, scholarship, and activities that explore a variety of perspectives that encourage all students to feel seen and included.”

City Tech OER team:

Anne Leonard, Interim OER Coordinator: aleonard@citytech.cuny.edu
Joshua Peach, Adjunct OER Librarian: jpeach@citytech.cuny.edu
Jo Thompson, Adjunct OER Librarian: jthompson@citytech.cuny.edu

New and Noteworthy OER 11/16

New and Noteworthy is the City Tech Library OER Team’s monthly roundup of new and noteworthy open educational resources. We try to include at least one OER relevant to each school at City Tech in every post. At the end of the month, these resources will be compiled and distributed by the library liaison for your department. Please contact us if you know of new or particularly interesting OER to share with our colleagues or would like more information about open educational resources initiatives at City Tech.

Anthropology

  • Reading Social Science Methods, by Ann Reisner, University of Illinois Library – Urbana (2023). License: CC BY-NC
    “Directed at introductory level social science and humanities majors, this textbook teaches the rules and limits of social science methods. Reisner starts from the assumption that it is not necessary to be able to do research to read and judge the soundness of research publications. The chapters guide students through an explicit set of rules for reading research articles developed from three common research methods: content analysis, survey research, and experimental method.”

Architectural Technology 

  •  Basic Concepts of Structural Design for Architecture Students, by Anahita Khodadadi (2023). License: CC BY-NC
    “This book aims to narrate fundamental concepts of structural design to architecture students such that they have minimum involvement with math problem-solving. Within this book, students learn about different types of loads, forces and vector addition, the concept of equilibrium, internal forces, geometrical and material properties of structural elements, and rules of thumb for estimating the proportion of some structural systems such as catenary cables and arches, trusses, and frame structures.”

Career & Technology Teacher Education

  • 25 Years of Ed Tech, by Martin Weller, Athabasca University Press (2020). License: CC BY-NC-ND
    “In this lively and approachable volume based on his popular blog series, Martin Weller demonstrates a rich history of innovation and effective implementation of ed tech across higher education. From Bulletin Board Systems to blockchain, Weller follows the trajectory of education by focusing each chapter on a technology, theory, or concept that has influenced each year since 1994. Calling for both caution and enthusiasm, Weller advocates for a critical and research-based approach to new technologies, particularly in light of disinformation, the impact of social media on politics, and data surveillance trends. A concise and necessary retrospective, this book will be valuable to educators, ed tech practitioners, and higher education administrators, as well as students.”

Chinese

  • Ting Yi Ting, by Sheree Willis & Yan Li, Open Language Resource Center, University of Kansas. License: CC BY-NC
    “An online guide that enables learners to hear and identify phonemic categories in Mandarin (including lexical tones) in a variety of phonetic contexts, and to associate those phonemes with Pinyin orthography. Includes extensive audio examples and computer-graded comprehension checks.”

Business

  • Strategic Project Management: A Practical Introduction for Human Resource Professionals, by Debra Patterson, ECampusOntario (2022). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “Two skills sets, Human Resources and Project Management have never been as essential to the world of work than in today’s workforce. This Strategic Project Management for Human Resources text is designed to learn about Project Management from a Human Resources perspective. It describes the Project Management and Human Resources processes and applications, and the role the Project Manager and team in implementing these processes. The text is designed to help students understand and apply the knowledge and skills learned about projects and people.”
  • Teaching Apparel Production, by Sheri Deaton, University of Arkansas (2023). License: CC BY
    “This text was written to provide students and teacher candidates with an introductory understanding of the skills associated with teaching apparel production. The book is broken into units and chapters that focus on essential skills for constructing garments and, more specifically, teaching others how to construct apparel and apparel-related products.”

Communication Design 

  • Look At This!: An Introduction to Art Appreciation, by Asa Simon Mittman (2023). License: CC BY-NC
    “Book Description: Look At This! is designed to help you approach and appreciate the visual arts wherever you find them. It explains how artists use the visual elements of their work to create moods and effects, teaches you how to break down complex images into their parts, and gives an overview of major themes in art. The book is global, and covers art from prehistory to the present.”

Economics

  • Reading Social Science Methods, by Ann Reisner, University of Illinois Library – Urbana (2023). License: CC BY-NC
    “Directed at introductory level social science and humanities majors, this textbook teaches the rules and limits of social science methods. Reisner starts from the assumption that it is not necessary to be able to do research to read and judge the soundness of research publications. The chapters guide students through an explicit set of rules for reading research articles developed from three common research methods: content analysis, survey research, and experimental method.”

Electrical Engineering Technology

  • Introduction to Vacuum Technology, by David M. Hata, Elena V. Brewer, and Nancy J. Louwagie (2023). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This text […] addresses basic topics in vacuum technology for individuals tasked with maintaining vacuum systems and instructors teaching technician-level courses. The topics are carefully curated to the needs of technicians in a production environment and the types of vacuum systems used, and the accompanying laboratory manual and instructor’s guide support the delivery of lecture-laboratory courses. […] This book approaches vacuum systems from a pressure regime viewpoint, covering basic vacuum science, followed by the rough vacuum regime, including gas load, pumping mechanisms, pressure measurement, vacuum system construction, and basic troubleshooting concepts. The study of high vacuum systems follows and the same topics are revisited, and finally the topics of leak detection and residual gas analysis are discussed.”

Environmental Science

  • Introduction to Soil Science, by Amber Anderson, Iowa State University Digital Press (2023). License: CC BY
    “This textbook introduces readers to the basics of soil science, including the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils; soil formation, classification, and global distribution; soil health, soils and humanity, and sustainable land management.”

History

  • Reading Social Science Methods, by Ann Reisner, University of Illinois Library – Urbana (2023). License: CC BY-NC
    “Directed at introductory level social science and humanities majors, this textbook teaches the rules and limits of social science methods. Reisner starts from the assumption that it is not necessary to be able to do research to read and judge the soundness of research publications. The chapters guide students through an explicit set of rules for reading research articles developed from three common research methods: content analysis, survey research, and experimental method.”

Human Services

  • Violence Against Women During Coronavirus: When Staying Home Isn’t Safe, by Naomi Pfitzner, Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Sandra Walklate, Silke Meyer, Marie Segrave, Springer Nature, 2023. License: CC BY
    “Drawing on empirical work situated within an international context, this book presents evidence alongside country specific case studies to provide a global exploration of how women’s insecurity increased during this global health crisis at the same as their access to support services reduced. It provides a timely analysis of the degree to which the pandemic and associated government restrictions impacted on women’s experiences of violence with particular attention to changes in its prevalence and severity, and in system and service responses to women’s help-seeking.”

Law & Paralegal Studies

  • Asylum Matters: On the Front Line of Administrative Decision-Making, by Laura Affolter, Palgrave (2021). License: CC BY
    “Asylum Matters is a rare feat, as it combines rich empirical material with valuable theoretical insights. Its carefully crafted arguments avoid the pitfalls of atomistic implementation research and convincingly present the social life of decision-making as learned and shared practices. Well-written and acces-sible, Laura Affolter’s socio-legal study reinvigorates the study of street-level bureaucracy and should be required reading for scholars interested in public administration and migration research alike.”
  • Open Source Law, Policy and Practice, 2nd edition, Amanda Brock (ed.), Oxford University Press (2022). License: CC BY-NC-ND
    “This book examines various policies, including the legal and commercial aspects of the Open Source phenomenon. Here, ‘Open Source’ is adopted as convenient shorthand for a collection of diverse users and communities, whose differences can be as great as their similarities. The common thread is their reliance on, and use of, law and legal mechanisms to govern the source code they write, use, and distribute.”

Mathematics

  • Introduction to Probability, by John R. Baxter, University of Minnesota (2023). License: CC BY-SA
    “This is an introduction to probability theory, designed for self-study. It covers the same topics as the one-semester introductory courses which I taught at the University of Minnesota, with some extra discussion for reading on your own. The reasons which underlie the rules of probability are emphasized. Probability theory is certainly useful. But how does it feel to study it? Well, like other areas of mathematics, probability theory contains elegant concepts, and it gives you a chance to exercise your ingenuity, which is often fun.”

Psychology

  • Reading Social Science Methods, by Ann Reisner, University of Illinois Library – Urbana (2023). License: CC BY-NC
    “Directed at introductory level social science and humanities majors, this textbook teaches the rules and limits of social science methods. Reisner starts from the assumption that it is not necessary to be able to do research to read and judge the soundness of research publications. The chapters guide students through an explicit set of rules for reading research articles developed from three common research methods: content analysis, survey research, and experimental method.”

Sociology

  • Reading Social Science Methods, by Ann Reisner, University of Illinois Library – Urbana (2023). License: CC BY-NC
    “Directed at introductory level social science and humanities majors, this textbook teaches the rules and limits of social science methods. Reisner starts from the assumption that it is not necessary to be able to do research to read and judge the soundness of research publications. The chapters guide students through an explicit set of rules for reading research articles developed from three common research methods: content analysis, survey research, and experimental method.”

OER Team
Cailean Cooney, Associate Professor, OER Librarian: ccooney@citytech.cuny.edu
Joshua Peach, Adjunct Reference & OER Librarian: jpeach@citytech.cuny.edu
Jo Thompson, Adjunct Reference & OER Librarian: jthompson@citytech.cuny.edu

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