 All right. Well, without further ado, we are going to go ahead and switch gears and get our students out here on the panel so they can talk to us about how they feel about who we are in the classroom. And we will have Dr. Robert Hassell help lead that discussion. Absolutely. Thank you, Dr. Apidu. I am so excited today. And the reason why I'm so excited today is because we actually get to hear from the students. And before I get started with today's panel, I want to take the time to get special thanks to Dr. Melton, Dr. Chislam, Dr. Barley, Dr. Apidu, Ike, Michaela and Trina. This particular phase in my OER journey was absolutely phenomenal. And I did not know at the beginning of this semester that I would be given a task at an institution that I work for American Baptist College to one, design a brand new course in their general studies program and to implement this course using open education resources. And I am so excited to tell you guys that the OER spirit has transferred all the way over to 1800 Baptist World Center Drive there on the Holy Hill at American Baptist College. It is an exciting time we have ushered in a new wave of innovation and progress. And I'm excited because of the hip hop artist would say I got my people with me today. People that are from my actual course, which is the English 203 course, which is the cultural writings course. And to give you a little bit of context about what you're going to hear from students today. Cultural writings is an upper level division course in the general studies branch of the curriculum at American Baptist College. This literature course gives students access to historical and emergent traditions of literature, culture and thought through critical interpretation and dialogue students are able to see how language mediated through text arranges and allows difference in learning and ways of living. So I have several of my students that are here today. I have for my cultural writings course. I have Mr. Terrence Haley, Mr. Cyrus Wilson, Mr. Robinson, Ms. Brittany Joy, and Mr. Darryl Duffy here with us to give you perspectives on the OER in the classroom experience. Now let me tell you anytime you go in and tell the Vice President and Academic Dean that you are not going to use the textbook. You better have your reasons why. And I want to give a shout out to our Vice President and Chief of Staff, Dr. Phyllis Hildreth and our Vice President and Academic Dean there at American Baptist College Dr. Phoebe Dickerson for allowing me to champion this and do something that no one has ever done before. And let me tell you it was a history making moment on the hill. And so I'm excited to begin this discussion by starting off asking any of my particular students, they can unmute in developing you can ask them questions as well concerning their OER journey. And this is how we'll facilitate the conversation and after you hear the responses, they can unmute and ask you they're on here so they know that they can unmute and respond accordingly. So the first question I want to ask to the people that are online, and I'll ask Brittany this question because she's here. What was the added benefit of using OER in this class, and how did it take the stress away from purchasing actual textbooks. Hello, everyone. Thank you for this opportunity for us to hassle. I knew you were going to give me but it's okay. For me, the stress that this class took off me being a single parent, a full time student and working a full time job and being a suicide prevention advocate. I have a lot on my plate. So to figure out okay how am I going to manage another class, an English class and how am I going to produce the resources that I need I need a book I need this I need that. When I found out there was no book there was probably the happiest moment for me. It was just it wasn't because I didn't have to spend money is because it put me in a place to where like I had to really be open to understanding what I was about to learn. And for me the benefit of it was most of the things that he taught us were all firsthand it wasn't something somebody wrote in the book 30 years ago and I can't go back and ask them, I can't go back and look for it. He emphasized the importance of firsthand information. You can go back and you can really search it and it made me realize that he has to have a heart for this as well, because he had to look for it. And he took the time and effort to do that. So for me that was a great benefit it also made me feel like he actually cared. It wasn't he got a book read over pulled out a couple things and said learning. It was a time to actually develop something and to actually teach you to where it was relatable, and it's something that I can talk to anybody about and now be confident and knowing, hey, I can give you information that you can find yourself. You don't have to just listen to me, but you can find it. Absolutely. Thank you so much Brittany for that perspective. And then we have, I mean, guess what we not only have American Baptist College in the house but we have the land of go to sunshine 3500 John A. Mary Boulevard in the house. We have with us today as well. The names here we have we have students from Dr. Milton's class now that class is the class to be in, because they have the tech guru there. We have as well Alphadu and David malls. We're going to introduce though that we're introducing those, but for any of our students that are on the panel, I want to ask this question, and any of y'all can go out there and grab it because it's a go get it right. What type of assignments were the most thought provoking for you using OER anybody. Oh, I'm sorry y'all but the Django assignment was the most. I have never had to think so much about an assignment I usually just read it, and I'm ready to answer. But having to explain the background the backstory all of the little any windows of Django and it's is background the language and what it was it what his intention was that really put things in perspective for me I really had to. It took me some time there wasn't a one day assignment. I had to come back a couple times do a couple edits, because I realized it wasn't really what it was in the front, it was more to it, but you did challenge me in processing that. Absolutely. Anyone else anyone else. I have one question, Miss Joy. And you mentioned that it wasn't about the money for you for when some of us started school books came three four weeks later after school started. How did you feel having access to your material before you started. Listen, it's it's nothing better than if you know the same when you stay ready you don't have to get ready. At that moment I feel like I was ready I was ready just sign me up I'm here. I didn't have to get ready I felt like whatever I had been doing I was just, let's go. I'm here. Let's do it so that it's a good feeling. You don't have to be apprehensive about okay what's this book on say is it going to have some exclusive things is it going to kind of tackle me a little bit, but I mean, it perfect for me. And so what did you say to your other classmates your other colleagues what do you say to them when they walk around carrying books. And you, and you have resources for free. I do, which I read. Oh no we'll handle book in our class. Y'all should try it, we'll handle book we put Gary, was it how did you get it on time with book. I got a pen I got a paper that's what I got. And I just want to echo. You didn't feel rushed with getting assignments because you already had that right there, right there. I just want to echo I'm sorry. I want to echo on that just a little bit. You are more prepared for the, the course assignments, because you have the resources available to you right away. So, I am so excited this is so this is a game changer this is innovative. I'm excited. Absolutely. So as you can see, we are is changing not just the lives of students, but it's changing their experiences in the classroom. And I think one of the most powerful things for to be engulfed in that experience, and to lead people through innovative and transformative learning is the ability for them to have the excitement about learning. It's one thing to have to come to a classroom, and they can testify our class is from 645 until 915 every Tuesday. So you can imagine after working all day. Sometimes going through just the rigors of life some of them actually have children etc. I love what you're coming to learn in order to be that attentive that late at night. So I want to say kudos to the students and I'm glad that this OER journey has been beneficial for you in this space. Let's hear from the TSU students. I know that the course with Dr. Melton because I've had a chance to get in there when she's talking about the new tech. Let me tell you, Dr. Melton has technology for every situation in life. Absolutely. I mean, if you cut your finger, you got a digital bandaid like literally. So I want to hear. I'm interested to hear what that experience was like in Dr. Melton's class. The types of technology and most importantly, here's a question that I have for you guys that were in Dr. Melton's class. How did what you learn this year using OER and technology in her course connect with other content areas and real life scenarios that you actually encountered. I can go first with that one because some of the tech stuff that I learned in her class it connected me because I do the stock market. So some of the things that some of the gadgets that she presented and got me got me the same. What if I looked at this, what if I looked at that and it got me towards other things but I used it for my benefit for the stock market to get into things that I knew it could help me with in tech or different situations that I knew it could put me in that I learned in that class, but I used it. I use those terms for the stock market, you know, took it out of the eSports class that we did and I use some of the stuff for the stock market. It really worked out. It's a real effective method. I really liked it. And then as far as Dr. Melton's class or the technology was great. If you wanted she got it the refrigerator with the stuff on the door the shirts that you had to put this game up to I mean everything was great that you can see the lungs and stuff. It was it was the glasses I mean it was so much stuff you know so many get the dog baby to cry was everything if you could imagine it was there and I just love the fact that the what if, because I took that with me everywhere and I applied that what if to everything I do. If it was one thing I got out of that it was the what if because you can take that what if and put it to any situation in life and make it happen because what if you know it could be you in those situations it could be you coming up with the new app or the new game or the new you know the game that's like can you that could be you you know and then with the only are the classes I liked it because it was videos and it wasn't like all but so I got to be you know I got the money on other stuff because it was free so you know you have a money out there but it helped it helped us in that class cloud of other students so it wasn't a book in a way it was videos it was other so we had time to do other stuff to meet with other students so you know I mean you wasn't always trapped in the book and you know it is better sometimes being a visual you know so I really appreciate it. Yes and I'm definitely a visual learner and I will say when I was in school and when I had books, it was so boring. It's like I couldn't comprehend, but when I experienced Dr. Melton's class yes I'm going to say it was a whole new different world. And then when you look at our kids today, it's like their world it's like their generation, and it comes easy to them so we're kind of like trying to jump in there and understand the technology today. OER is like that when you go into the technology is so broad it's so it's you learning so much stuff like Dr. Melton with the nails and, and you know the shirt and all of that stuff, but when you go into OER it is a whole new world. I mean it's like it opens up if you click on OER and start researching you'll start looking at just tell a student go out on OER, go out on Merlo, and go out on those libraries and then they'll start clicking oh my God look at this. Oh my God I didn't know this was out there, then they can sit there and look at videos, and it's all for free. So I think word of mouth just by being a student to say look if you study and do this and look at this and go out on OER. You'd be surprised of the learning, because you're getting it firsthand, and it's new stuff that's out there. So I just have to add that. Yes, thank you very much. I just wanted to add to that Dr. Chisholm. What I liked about OER is not only pertaining to your classwork, but as I was previously working with the National Fire Department there was information out there about fires about inspecting about building a code. There's stuff out there that I saw once Dr. Melton introduced OER to me. So it's pertinent information that you can use, like Dr. Chisholm said for this current time that we're in not for a yesterday time but for because I'm hands on to. So when I see it, it brings more to the table for me. Hi, and I'm sorry, my name is Ajwa Ampadu. I just would just like to share I was also in the Eastbrook's course and I got to audit the technology, new technology with Dr. Melton's course. And honestly, I live in Washington state. So, you know, going to an HBCU is very important to me but it's not always accessible, just on wherever I'm living at the time so having these courses that allow you to be remote and accessible be able to communicate and be a part of this academic space is really such a wonderful and brilliant experience that I just can't wait to see how much it grows going forward. But again also what Brittany Joy shared, it's wonderful to not have to, you know, it's not about the money not having to, you know, buy the book but it's really about just bringing yourself your mind is what you're bringing to the table and, you know, everything is in the back of your pocket, you can just carry X amount of books on your phone and so that's just such a relieving feeling. And also to piggyback off of what Mr. Moss was sharing. It's just a wonderful experience to be able to collaborate and bring these bring this field I work in the field of drinking water or water ecology and so in the course with eSports we were actually our final project was asking us how are we going to pretty much push this forward and are in our individual fields. And that really opened up a whole new world for me also because there's so much going on with data science. We're collecting and collecting all this data stars environmental data points about the in the oceans and in our waterways. We're finding new ways for us to even collaborate globally with other organizations and other schools but also having resources to are sharing resources, globally, being able to access all of these materials that would otherwise be difficult for us to find or have to pay money, you know, to get publications in order to read up on, you know, the most recent publications or, you know, topics of the field so it's just been such a great experience, being able to see how education is really opening up and really kind of closing the gap of a classes kind of society where you have to have a lot of money or go into a lot of debt in order to expand your mind. So it's such a wonderful thing to see like this is more accessible for everybody and again, me being all the way across the country. It's just, I felt like it was just a an olive branch to invite more people into these into our environment into our communities. Thank you. Absolutely. Do you hear this. Oh, we are knows no distance, infinite possibilities, infinite outcomes. And guess what, it is changing the way our students are learning and guess what, they are getting it. They are getting it. And guess what I don't know about you, but I feel like a teacher or instructor with superpowers. Yeah, I feel like miss frizzle like going there, get messy make mistakes and have fun learning. Guess what, but that's not all that's not all that's not all that's not all. We have a non traditional student on our call today that has experienced we are. And I think that is going to be so significant that you hear the perspective of a non traditional student that is up in age so that you know that we are is not just for the younger demographic, but to hear somebody who's actually used we are. That's from a different generation than the current populations that we serve. Mr. Terrence Haley is on the line. And I want you to tell us about your OER experience and how you've tried to manage how you've navigated that space as a non traditional student in your institutions context. It's been a, it's been God's glory for me. Buying books and not using some of the books that you buy some of the teachers would have you buy three or four books and you may use one of them and may not even finish that one. Buying book kit buying bookcases can get costly buying bookcases that if you have a order that lives with you my wife that puts everything on a bookcase is supposed to build a bookcase it takes up your space capability. With this OER it's been mind blowing. I love the rebel way that Dr. Hassel has taught the culture writing class to us. I'm from Nashville and the municipal auditorium was the place for concerts back in the day. It was also the place for social weed smoking. And we'd see George Clinton. We're in a section called Afro Futurism right now. And that thought never hit me until last week, but not even knowing that we were in the middle of it that George Clinton actually had something to say besides the music that we were vibing to. Good evening. Do not adjust your radio. Those things chocolate city. The mothership connection never had a real big understanding that we were going into Afro Futurism until I took this class and also that I don't have to buy any books about it. We have a lot of contemporary artists now that that express Afro Futurism in their music such as Joe Neal Minnet. Joe Neal, I can't even pronounce the name. Joe Neal Minnet I like her, but I even understand the music better. I like watching Atlanta. I even understand watching Atlanta better. See how the affordability, the engagement that he gives us the freedom to speak speak up about has helped me a whole lot. I'm a student that came to school to a college at 58 years old not knowing what I was getting into. And OER has been a straight blessing for me. I didn't even know that I wouldn't pronounce words right or do any of this right until I got into Dr. House's class. A lot better at it. A lot better at it. Thank you, Dr. House. Thank you for the models of teachers and facilitators that we have in today. Thank you. Thank you so much, Mr. Haley. Thank you so much, Mr. Haley. Can we give him a hand? I want us to give him and give him a hand because it takes courage to be up in age and navigate technology. And he has shown diligence. He's shown a tremendous amount of courage and he has really come into the space came out swinging. And now, you know, he's one of what the cool kids as we would call it right. It's been an exciting journey. Do we have any questions? We have a hand right. Mr. Duffy Xavier. Yes, I'm sorry. I just wanted to make a comment from my personal experience. The thing that I loved about it, especially for the specific course cultural writings was that it gave us added information. I've, I've taken similar courses throughout the years and I can't hear Mr. Duffy. There you go. There you go. Can you hear me now? Okay, yes, sir. Someone was calling. But I just want to say that, yeah, it gave us that same, it didn't give us that same level of information and history and that same face and perspective on, especially from our specific course. And so I think the added information kind of, excuse me, I'm sorry. The added information kind of help the, we will literally be on discussions for 30 minutes for, you know, just some of the information that we that we were given. And so I think that had everything to do with the different styles and types of writings that we that we were looking at. Yes. Thank you so much, Mr. Duffy.