OER at City Tech

Tag: Law & Paralegal Studies (Page 1 of 3)

New and Noteworthy OER 05/04

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

Career & Technology Teacher Education 

  • Digital Resilience of ePortfolios During and Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for the Future, edited by Mpho-Entle Puleng Modise and Norman Vaughan, Mount Royal University Library (2025).
    License: CC BY-NC 
    “Digital Resilience of ePortfolios During and Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for the Future delves into the transformative role that ePortfolios have played during and after this global crisis. This online open educational resource (OER) explores how ePortfolios have sustained educational and professional activities and fostered a new level of digital resilience.”

Computer Systems Technology

  • Culturally Responsive Computing: An Introduction into Computer Science, Security, and Technology: An Introduction into Computer Science, Security, and Technology, by Devan J. Walton, ROTEL (Remixing Open Textbooks with an Equity Lens) Project (2024). License: CC BY-NC-SA 
    “Culturally Responsive Computing is an essential textbook that explores the intricate relationship between technology and global societies. It gives students and professionals a deep understanding of how cultural contexts shape and are shaped by computing practices, from algorithm design to user interface development. This book equips readers with the knowledge and skills to create inclusive, ethical, and culturally sensitive technological solutions for our diverse world. This includes a newly added AI-Powered Adaptation Tool that will help educators customize the content for their specific teaching contexts.”

Construction Management & Civil Engineering Technology

  • 2025 Innovation in the Construction Industry, edited by Carrie Sturts Dossick and Lauren Ray, University of Washington (2025).
    License: CC BY-NC-ND
    “A collection of case studies about adopting new technologies and changing practices in design, construction, and operations of the built environment.”

Human Services

  • Human Behavior and the Social Environment II by Whitney Payne, University of Arkansas Libraries (2020). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “These materials will help students and instructors alike explore human behavior and how it is shaped and impacted by both traditional and non-traditional paradigms. This text will also support the reader in having a deeper understanding of how the environment, in all of its complexity, can affect individuals, families, groups, and communities. It is my hope that the information contained in this book will help you, as a future social worker, approach client systems with empathy, understanding, and a compassionate curiosity that allows for comprehensive assessment, individualized approaches to treatment, and continuity of care.” 

Law & Paralegal Studies

  • Constitutional Law with a Twist: Less Is More by Alisa Klein, CALI’s eLangdell® Press (2025). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    Constitutional Law with a Twist: Less is More is designed for a one-semester survey course on federal constitutional law. The casebook covers the content of a typical four-credit survey course: the structure of the U.S. government and individual rights (other than First Amendment rights and rights unique to criminal law). What differentiates this casebook from most other constitutional law casebooks is that this book is deliberately short. It reflects the author’s philosophy that students often experience more joy, more depth, and more growth in an introductory course on constitutional law when there is less reading, more emphasis on contemporary cases, and more feedback on interim work. The book’s preface and the introduction to the accompanying teacher’s manual describe the book’s approach in detail to help faculty decide whether this casebook is a good fit for them and their students. 
  • Civil Rights and Liberties edited by Rorie Spill Solberg, Oregon State University (2023). License: CC BY
    This volume focuses on the constitutional doctrine and law in the areas of civil rights and liberties. It contains excerpts of landmark cases covering the first amendment, second amendment, fourteenth amendment and the right to privacy. The excerpts include the constitutional issues in these cases that are related to civil rights and liberties with other questions of law and dicta omitted. 
  • Government Powers and Limitations edited by Rorie Spill Solberg, Oregon State University (2024). License: CC BY
    This volume focuses on constitutional doctrine and law in the areas of government powers and limitations. It includes excerpts of landmark cases related to the judiciary and executive, contracts and takings clauses, and due process. The excerpts include the constitutional issues in these cases that are related to government powers and limitations with other questions of law and dicta omitted. 

Nursing

  • Mental Health for Undergraduate Nursing by Russelyn Connor, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (2025). License: CC BY-NC
    Mental Health Undergraduate Nursing is designed to support a one-semester psychiatric-mental health nursing course offered at both two-year and four-year institutions. Serving a student base of both students specializing in psychiatric nursing and those from other health disciplines, the course integrates evidence-based practices with practical strategies for communication, readying students to build therapeutic relationships with clients and caregivers.” 
  • The Science of Nutrition by Heather L Lehman, The Pennsylvania Alliance for Design of Open Textbooks (PA-ADOPT) (2026). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    The Science of Nutrition offers a clear and engaging introduction to the fundamental principles of nutrition. This textbook bridges evidence-based research with practical application, making it ideal for both nutrition or science majors and non-majors. Students will explore how nutrition is studied, how dietary recommendations are developed, and why these guidelines matter for health. 
  • Microbiology (OpenStax) by Dr. Valory Thatcher and Dr. Nadine Phoenix, MHCC Library Press Open Educational Resources (2026). License: CC BY
    Microbiology covers the scope and sequence requirements for a single-semester microbiology course for non-majors. The book presents the core concepts of microbiology with a focus on applications for careers in allied health. The pedagogical features of the text make the material interesting and accessible while maintaining the career-application focus and scientific rigor inherent in the subject matter. Microbiology’s art program enhances students’ understanding of concepts through clear and effective illustrations, diagrams, and photographs.

City Tech OER team:
Cailean Cooney, Associate 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 03/27

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, Illinois Open Publishing Network (2026). License: CC BY
    “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. Through case studies, historical analysis, and design theory, Hinders illustrates how built environments reflect collective values, cultural shifts, and functional needs.”

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. Having a basic background in statistics would be beneficial, but such training is not a prerequisite to understanding how to apply the techniques discussed here. Several How-To sections are included to demonstrate the implementation of the given control charts using software such as Minitab and Excel. Additionally, samples of a Python code are included and can directly be accessed in a Jupyter Notebook at https://github.com/JeromeNN

Construction Management & Civil Engineering Technology      

  • Engineering Signal Analysis: From Fourier to filtering: Theory, by Christian Tiberius and Max Mulder, TU Delft Open (2026). License: CC BY
    “Engineering Signal Analysis – Theory, is an introductory textbook on the analysis of signals in time and frequency. It takes an engineer’s perspective and discusses how to characterize, analyze and operate on signals. The basic theoretical concepts, Fourier series and transform, are explained in continuous time. It then introduces discrete-time signals, addressing how sampling and finite signal duration affect spectral analysis. It discusses the discrete Fourier transform and its use in spectral estimation. The book concludes with an introduction to linear systems and signal filtering.”

Electrical & Telecommunications Engineering Technology

  • Embedded Controllers using C and Arduino + Lab Manual, by James Fiore, Milne Open Textbooks (2018). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This text introduces embedded controller systems using the inexpensive and widely available Arduino hardware platform and the C programming language. It is intended for students in Electrical Engineering and Electrical Engineering Technology programs at the Associate and Baccalaureate levels. Unlike many Arduino texts, this text does not rely solely on the Arduino libraries. Rather, it “gets under the hood” and directly accesses I/O ports, pins and DDR, as would be expected in a traditional college level microprocessor/microcontroller course. The companion laboratory manual introduces embedded controller systems using the Arduino hardware platform and the C programming language. Exercises include usage of seven-segment displays, switches and analog input devices; a reaction timer; PWM; an event counter and an arbitrary waveform generator.”

Human Services

  • Social Justice & Advocacy in Human Services by Cailyn F. Green, Bernadet DeJonge, Nikki Golden, Kim Brayton, Carrie Steinman and Shannon Raybold, Empire State College (2025). License: CC BY
    Social Justice & Advocacy in Human Services delves into the complex realm of social justice, offering a deep dive into historical roots and theories to practical applications in the field. This text covers fundamental concepts, including power, privilege, and oppression, and explores critical issues like racism, gender, sexuality, poverty, religion, and disability in the context of the United States. The last section of the book hones in on the field of human services, discussing power, privilege, and bias in this context, and lastly exploring equitable distribution, human rights, and the systems and entry points within human services practice. 

Law & Paralegal Studies

  • Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System: An Equity Lens by Roxie Supplee, and Megan Gonzalez, Open Oregon Educational Resources (2025). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    This introductory criminal justice textbook serves as a comprehensive resource for students to explore the key areas of the American criminal justice system. Students will examine the roles of the police, courts, corrections, and juvenile law. Additionally, the book introduces criminal theory, data, and legal principles. Beyond just studying these topics, students will have the opportunity to investigate potential careers and reflect on their roles and opinions within our legal system. 

Mathematics

  • Introductory Statistics by Jared Eusea; Phyllis Okwan; Rachid Belmasrour; Stephan Patterson; and Stephen Andrus, LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network (2024). License: CC BY-SA
    This book is designed to be used in any Introductory Statistics course. It focuses on the interpretation of statistical results, especially in real world settings, and assumes that students have an understanding of intermediate algebra. The main sections of the text follows “traditional statistics” teaching methods by placing a significant emphasis on the development and practical application of formulas, so that students have a deeper understanding of their interpretation and application of data. However, because it is also widely known that the use of technology (graphing calculators, Excel, etc.) is used to cover the concepts in statistics, an added feature of Using Technology sections at the end of each chapter has been added. 
  • Significant Statistics by John Morgan Russell, Virginia Tech Publishing (2025). License: CC BY-SA
    Significant Statistics: An Introduction to Statistics is intended for students enrolled in a one-semester introduction to statistics course who are not mathematics or engineering majors. It focuses on the interpretation of statistical results, especially in real world settings, and assumes that students have an understanding of intermediate algebra. In addition to end of section practice and homework sets, examples of each topic are explained step-by-step throughout the text and followed by a ‘Your Turn’ problem that is designed as extra practice for students. 

Social Sciences

  • Leveraging Data Visualization to Communicate Effectively by Jennie L. Mitchell, PALNI (2025). License: CC BY
    This textbook introduces students to the principles of effective data visualization and how to use visualization techniques to effectively communicate information and insights. Additionally, it shares presentation strategies to address communication gaps that could arise if the visualized data does not have the proper context and labeling. Students will learn how to select appropriate chart types and design effective visualizations that clearly convey data patterns and trends, to support data-driven decisions. The textbook also covers best practices for labeling, scaling, and annotating visualizations, as well as techniques for avoiding common pitfalls and biases in data visualization. Through hands-on exercises and projects, students will have the opportunity to practice creating a variety of visualizations using tools such as Excel, Power Business Intelligence (BI) and several problem-solving tools like Ishikawa, SWOT, PEST/LE, decision tree and more. Students will be able to process, analyze and visualize data to evaluate patterns and trends, and learn ways to communicate more effectively regardless of the setting or the type of audience.

City Tech OER team:

Cailean Cooney, Associate 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 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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