Catalog

Literary Studies for a Sustainable Future: An Introductory Course with Social Justice and Ecocriticism Intersections propels readers into the 21st century by providing intellectual spaces for both learners and educators within the realism of the web of life. Learners have opportunities to become virtuosos in ecocriticism and literary studies.

Inspired by Black feminist and legal theorist Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw’s work on intersectionality, Indigenous storyteller and novelist Leslie Marmon Silko, and American biologist Rachel Carson, learners navigate traditional and innovative literary studies approaches to critique and understand ancient world mythology and Indigenous literature, folklore since Aesop’s Fables to the Arabian Nights, Sappho’s poetics and the feminist romance, and early modern satirical theater of Ben Johnson and William Shakespeare.

Teaching and learning experiences throughout the book challenge readers to approach the study of nature in texts as literary criticism known as ecocriticism. The aim of ecocriticism is to decenter typical anthropocentric interpretative tendencies. Learners are more informed in literary studies as a multifaceted academic journey into how texts represent human communities within landscapes and lifeforms.

This textbook opens with role models in the literary world to introduce innovative ecocritical interpretative approaches in Black, Chicano, and Indigenous Studies. Its introductory sections provide different literary texts and modalities like short film clips, folk songs, and poetry that are informed by key terms and inquiries on the correlations between the environment and instances of social injustices. These learning opportunities potentially unveil an intersectionality between literary studies and concerns with social justice that are important to every community, like those identified in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Following these initial sections on critical theory, the book is organized in three parts with formative and end of chapter assignments for both in-class and online instruction.

This resource is written for an introductory or intermediate-level college genetics course. The work begins with an exploration of DNA and genome structure, including landmark experiments that contributed to our early understanding of the relationship between DNA, genes, and traits. It continues with the central dogma of molecular genetics: the molecular mechanisms that allow cells to use the information stored in DNA. It also discusses the cause and effect of mutation. The molecular processes are then linked back to classical transmission genetics experiments.

Transmission genetics, including traditional topics like multigenic inheritance, linkage, and pedigree analysis, is explored with an understanding that the relationships between genotype and phenotype depends on the molecular processes affecting gene expression. This work concludes with topics that synthesize information from both transmission and molecular genetics, including epigenetics, cancer biology, and evolution.

Science is meant to be an impartial field of study, but it is nonetheless influenced by social factors that drive which research questions are pursued and that color how results are interpreted or acted upon. In this text, the fundamental concepts of genetics are described in the context of the historical and social pressures that affect the work. Examples of how these concepts are applied in human medicine, agriculture, and ecology are also explored, along with conversations of the relationship between genetics and society.

The Whole Child is a textbook that gives an overview of development, beginning in the mother’s womb through the age of eight. It starts with a look at perspectives of early childhood, including how children have been viewed historically as well as cross-culturally. There is a complete overview of the important theorists that have helped to deepen and bring clarity to how children develop. These theories include psychodynamic, behavioral, social cognitive theory, cognitive theory, humanistic, multiple intelligence, growth mindset, and Bloom’s taxonomy. Understanding the implications of each theory is important foundational knowledge for the study of development. Developmental domains at each stage is examined alongside important milestones. The biology of the brain is given important consideration. Some of the many factors that influence a young child’s development are also included in this text.

Written by a former early intervention developmental therapist in consultation with EI parents, this text provides an updated and easily accessible framework for providing culturally responsive early intervention services. Each component of the updated framework is presented in its own chapter that includes an introduction to new concepts, necessary background information, recommendations for future practice, case studies and/or reflective tools, next steps, and linked resources. Written in practitioner friendly language with concepts and strategies that are immediately relevant to working with families with children with disabilities, this text is appropriate for pre- and in-service EI providers at all levels.

Children, Families, Schools, and Communities is an introductory text in the field of Child and Family Studies.  It provides a lens for understanding the evolving definition of “family” through socially constructed and ecological theory frameworks.   It promotes strategies for culturally sustaining and deeply collaborative relationships between families, schools, and communities through the use of home-grown advocacy strategies based on community-driven data.  Children, Families, Schools, and Communities is an adapted OER text from Rebecca Laff’s and Wendy Ruiz’s Child, Family, and Community.

Bodies reflect not only individual lifestyle choices but also an individual’s freedom or constraint in navigating health options and healthcare systems.  Reporting on “the obesity crisis” in America often overlooks the socioeconomic forces that allow or limit individual choices in food intake and physical activity, so while the first part of this book focuses on developing students’ scientific thinking and their ability to seek out and evaluate information, the second part of this book encourages skepticism in detecting misinformation in the study of the causes and nature of obesity.

This book is written for anyone who could benefit from learning more about health, wellness, and fitness. Throughout the text, readers will learn about health and wellness, setting goals, physical activity and exercise, cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance, body composition, flexibility, nutrition, stress management, as well as self-care and sleep. In addition to providing important information about the above topics, the text also includes self-assessment assignments and self-reflection opportunities. These components allow readers to identify personal strengths and weaknesses, and utilize the information given in the chapter to determine any further course of action they would like to make.

Health, wellness, and fitness are important for everyone. This text, while applicable to all individuals from high level athletes, to non-athletes, was written with the aim to focus primarily on the latter and demonstrate how we can all make improvements, whether those be around physical activity, exercise, fitness, nutrition, self care, or sleep. Small changes over time can lead anyone in the direction of greater wellness. We are all dealt different hands in life, and we all have our history and our own experiences, but one thing we all have in common is that we can start now from wherever we are and make small changes to improve our health, wellness, and fitness.

This Introduction to Philosophy: An Anthology is a collection of essential readings from a wide variety of contemporary writers and philosophers designed to help students unfamiliar with philosophy understand that they know more than they think. This OER asks students to think about how they think and how they know what they know. Students will start by challenging assumptions and flexing those critical thinking skills we all have—not just in an abstract way but in a practical, everyday way. Students will explore the branches of philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics, by asking questions like: “Where did we come from?” “How do we know right from wrong?” “Who are we?” “Why are we here?” “How should we live?” “What does “a good life” mean?” and “Why do bad things happen?”

Introduction to Communication and Media Studies is an in-depth exploration of how communication shapes our world. This book traces the historical evolution of media, from the early days of the printing press to today’s digital age, examining key developments such as the telegraph, radio, television, and the internet. It also covers critical theories that explain media’s impact on society, including the effects of advertising, the role of public relations, and the emergence of social media as a powerful force in modern communication. Chapters on media literacy, critical thinking, and rhetorical analysis help students develop critical skills for understanding and analyzing media messages.

This textbook provides students with guidelines for understanding writing tasks as intellectual work using Bloom’s Taxonomy and for treating the writing process as a set of variable activities that move along a trajectory from idea or assignment to a finished product. The book also includes chapters on strengthening reading strategies and on finding, evaluating, and using sources effectively.