Third Quarter Update - October 2024
July - September
General WisTech Open updates, as well as updates from each of their respective editors, for the third quarter can be found below. Note that the Open RN brand, textbooks, and related resources will all be maintained and sustained through WisTech Open. Remember, if you would like to get involved with one of these projects, or have an idea for a new project, visit www.cvtc.edu/WisTech!
General WisTech Open Updates
- Project team attended Wisconsin Higher Education OER Action Planning workshop.
- The Accreditation Commission for Educating in Nursing (ACEN) visited the CVTC Nursing program; accreditors were pleased with the work of Open RN and will share with other institutions
- A new project has been identified with residual funding - Grant & Proposal Writing. Work will commence next quarter.
- The July 2025 cohort of OER 101 saw 21 participants. Congrats to the graduates!
Textbook Updates
Blueprint Reading
Estimated Release Date: May 2025
The first draft of the remaining twelve chapters has been completed. The initial review of the text has begun. Additionally, the kickoff meeting for the project’s WTCS faculty workgroup has been scheduled. Submitted by Mark Lorier, Editor
Digital Literacy for Healthcare
Expected Release Date: November 2024
The Digital Literacy OER, Using Computers in Healthcare, is written and has now been through the second review process. We are on track to complete the OER by the end of the year. Students are using the textbook this fall and high school students will be using the textbook in the spring. A stable link to the text can be found here: https://wtcs.pressbooks.pub/digitalliteracy/. Submitted by Brigitte Niedzwiecki, Editor
General Anatomy & Physiology
Expected Release Date: June 2025 (First Draft)
The General Anatomy & Physiology project is just getting started, with an anticipated first draft completed by June 2025. The text aligns with WTCS curriculum, which is currently under a state review. Submitted by Vince Mussehl, Project Director
Grant & Proposal Writing
Expected Release Date: June 2025 (First Draft)
This project is in its formative stage. The editor will create a prototype and an interest survey will be sent out to WTCS faculty next quarter. Submitted by Vince Mussehl, Project Director
Early Childhood Education
Expected Release Date: June 2025
Faculty authors have been finishing up the first drafts for both the Foundations of ECE and Family & Community Relationships textbooks. This quarter, the chapter reviews will take place and faculty have started creating H5P activities, collecting images and videos to go along with the textbooks. Submitted by Amanda Dohms, Editor
EMT I
Expected Release Date: June 2025
A re-summary of the Q3 progress for the EMT 1 text would be this organization of interested potential authors based on the informational meeting provided by you. It was well attended. I received multiple positive comments about Sam's media demonstrations. The immediate next step is for me to find the list of interested participants and the competencies/chapters for which they indicated preference. The goal is competencies/chapters to be written by mid-end of December. Submitted by Dr. Suzanne Martens, Editor
Innovative Business Mindset
Expected Release Date: November 2024
Reviewer feedback was reviewed and incorporated into the text. This included adding an extra chapter and a local case study example. Various H5P activities were embedded in the text and a cover image has been created. Key Takeaways were created for each chapter. The text has gone through the initial proofreading round and edits have been made. AI video summaries are almost complete. A stable link to the text can be found here: https://wtcs.pressbooks.pub/innovativebusinessmindset/. Submitted by Stephanie Pohnl, Editor
Medical Terminology (2e)
Published June 2024 - View Here
The text has been completed and is available for immediate use. The National Library of Medicine added this to their online library. Submitted by Kim Ernstmeyer, Editor
Nursing Health Alterations
Published August 2024 - View Here
The online book with its associated interactive H5P learning activities, NCLEX Next-Generation style case study questions, and “RN Recap” video overviews was published in Pressbooks in August, 2024. We are currently working with Kendall Hunt to create an affordable soft cover print version. Submitted by Kim Ernstmeyer, Editor
Nursing Dosage Calculations
Expected Release Date: November 2024
Finishing touches are currently being made on the Nursing Dosages Calculations text, but the stable links to access can be found here: https://wtcs.pressbooks.pub/nursingdosagecalculations/. Submitted by Vince Mussehl, Project Director
Nursing Health Promotion
Expected Release Date: January 2025
The first seven chapters of this book were released in Pressbooks in August as a soft release for immediate student use. Many WTCS colleges require multiple books for this course, and the release of these seven chapters will promote immediate student savings in Fall 2024 courses. These seven chapters are based on course competencies related to Teaching/Learning, Healthy Lifestyles, Healthy Diets, Family Dynamics, Mental Health Concepts, Maladaptive Coping, and Mental Health Conditions. The online book with its associated H5P interactive learning activities and NCLEX Next Generation-style case studies can be viewed at https://wtcs.pressbooks.pub/healthpromo/. The remaining chapters based on Health Promotion course competencies will be developed in Fall 2024 and released by January 2025. Chapters based on CHA1 and CHA2 course competencies will be developed and added to the online book through Spring 2025. Submitted by Kim Ernstmeyer, Editor
Nursing Fundamentals (2e)
Published August 2024 - View Here
The “second edition” of this online book was finalized in Pressbooks in August 2024 using the same URL as the first edition: https://wtcs.pressbooks.pub/nursingfundamentals . Here is a document that summarizes updates made to the second edition. We are working with Kendall Hunt to create an affordable soft cover print version. Submitted by Kim Ernstmeyer, Editor
Nursing Management and Professional Concepts (2e)
Published August 2024 - View Here
The “second edition” of this online book was finalized in August 2024 using the same URL as the first edition: https://wtcs.pressbooks.pub/nursingmpc. Here is a summary of the updates made to the second edition. We are working with Kendall Hunt to create an affordable soft cover print version. Submitted by Kim Ernstmeyer, Editor
Nursing Mental Health (2e)
Expected Release Date: June 2025
A survey will be sent to WTCS Course leads in Fall 2024 requesting suggested revisions for each chapter based on the revised WTCS state nursing curriculum. The live book will be updated during a window of May-June 2025 based on the 2023 NCLEX-RN Test Plan, updated state nursing curriculum, and WTCS Course Lead feedback. The “second edition” of the online book will be released by June 30, 2025. Submitted by Kim Ernstmeyer, Editor
Oral & Interpersonal Communication
Expected Release Date: June 2025
Curriculum review meetings will be held in October/November at a state-level to determine any changes to course competencies. Prototypes have been created of select chapters. A project kick-off meeting is scheduled in October. Submitted by Bridget Bell, Editor
Respiratory Therapy
Expected Release Date: May 2025
Draft Preface , Introduction, Standard and Conceptual Approach were drafted, ekg, gas laws and hyperinflation competencies were completed. Skills assessments were drafted and a mock-up of one section in Pressbooks was started. Citations were checked on content and images. The workgroup has met, and they are going to be reviewing the chapters in the month of October. Submitted by Kirsten Holbrook, Editor
3rd Quarter WisTech Open Users
- 641,763 users
- 1.6 million page views
- 34,072 downloads
Since 2022
- 7.7 million users
- 15 million page views
- 234,841 downloads
- 117 institutions