CFP: CPTSC Open Educational Resources (OER) Archive

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Hello all –

The Council on Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication (CPTSC) is excited to invite its members to contribute to our Open Educational Resources (OER) Archive. We are seeking high-quality resources that facilitate the teaching of technical and scientific communication in a variety of academic settings. Your submission(s) will play a crucial role in advancing the field and promoting effective pedagogical practices. If you have graduate students who would be interested in this, please pass this call along.

Please read the following guidelines carefully before submitting your contributions.

Submissions can include but are not limited to the following.

  • Prompts for assignments, activities, and discussion (specifying learning outcomes and including an assessment rubric)
  • Slide Decks (with lecture notes)
  • Original case studies
  • Original (or OER developed) textbook chapters or student readings with related quizzes, exams, or discussion questions
  • Worksheets and handouts
  • Learning modules with lesson plans and related learning activities, assignments, and materials
  • Syllabi or related curricular materials

Submission Guidelines

Adherence to Core Principles:

All submissions to the CPTSC OER Archive must align with our project’s four core principles:

Sustainability

Your OER is supported by embedded processes for continuous upkeep and funding (if applicable). You’ve taken into account how the OER will remain sustainable including considerations of copyright and fully independent of or includes access to other outside resources for at least 3 years.

Note: This does not apply to syllabi, assignments, or other static objects.

Generalist/Adaptable/Scalable Content

Your OER materials should be applicable in a variety of academic settings without the need for complicated or time-consuming adaptations. Whether it’s for a two-year community college, a four-year undergraduate program, or graduate-level courses, your materials should be versatile. Clearly indicate which portions are applicable for different types of use.

Accessibility + Inclusivity

Your OER follows Universal Design principles and is accessible and inclusive to all students, fostering a welcoming and supportive learning environment. The material is flexible and adaptable to students’ needs while maintaining high challenge and impact. It considers the diverse needs of students and reflects both technical and social inclusivity perspectives. (Please reference https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-principles/ and https://www.washington.edu/doit/equal-access-universal-design-instruction).

Rhetorically Grounded

Your OER uses rhetorical concepts such as audience, purpose, context, and appeals to ground your understanding of the complexity of developing communication artifacts. It recognizes that genres are contingent and dynamic based on context and changing needs. The OER is infused with rhetorical awareness to enhance the effectiveness of technical and scientific communication.

Peer Review Process

All submissions will undergo a peer review process to ensure quality and alignment with the core principles. Reviewers will assess the sustainability, adaptability, accessibility, inclusivity, and rhetorical grounding of each submission.

Submission Categories

We welcome submissions in various categories, including but not limited to course materials, assignments, instructional guides, multimedia resources, and assessment tools.

How to Submit

Please use our online submission portal to submit your OER resources (https://forms.gle/Wkj6XtHgTtFdzzux9). You will be required to provide detailed information about your submission, including how it aligns with the core principles and the intended academic setting(s).

Deadline for Submissions

The first submission deadline for the launch of the CPTSC OER Archive is June 1. If this deadline is missed, materials will be considered for future deadlines.

Contact Information

If you have any questions or need assistance with your submission, please contact oer.cptsc.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to the CPTSC OER Archive and appreciate your dedication to advancing the teaching of technical and scientific communication. Your efforts will benefit educators and students across a diverse range of institutions and enhance the field’s accessibility, inclusivity, and sustainability.

Thank you for being a part of this valuable initiative.

Julia Romberger and the CPTSC Administrators Committee

Dr. Julia Romberger, Associate Professor

(she/her/hers)

Graduate Program Director, PhD in English

Old Dominion University

Department of English | BAL 5024

5115 Hampton Blvd.

Norfolk, VA 23529-0078

email: jromberg