Earlier this year, we posted a call for proposals that aimed to increase and improve the application, awareness, and sustainability of open education in trades training. The Open Education for Trades Grant may also be used for, but is not limited to, the development of open textbooks, instructor resources, media, open test banks, or ancillary resources.
Post by Tim Carson, Trades Open Education Representative
Given our current pivot, it took us some time to get the necessary pieces in place, but we can now proudly announce the grant recipients and the projects they’ll be working on:
| Author(s) or Project Lead | Institution | Grant Award | Project |
| Aaron Lee | BCIT | $5,000 | HVAC Electrical for Electrical Apprenticeship |
| Michelle Nakano | KPU | $5,000 | Line F — Levels 3 and 4 — Horticulture/Landscape |
| Bruce Neid | CMTN | $5,000 | Welding OER Instructor Resources |
| Mark Overgaard and Chad Flinn | BCIT | $20,000 | Math for Trades: Volume 2 |
| Sally Vinden | Articulation Group | $20,000 | Line F13, F14, F15 |
| Brian Coey and Antonio Henriques | Camosun/OkanaganCollege | $40,000 | Gap Analysis, Level 1 Alignment, Starting Level 1 Apprenticeship |
| Bryan Messer | Articulation Group | $40,000 | Revising Level 1 Content |
It is our plan to ensure these projects are completed by December 31, 2020, if not sooner, given the increased need for these resources.
We have just released the first of four projects from our previous term: you can find Math for Trades: Volume 1 (Mark Overgaard and Chad Flinn) in the B.C. Open Textbook Collection. The other three projects — which will be completed shortly — are Basic Motor Control (Electrical), Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist Identify Plants and Plant Requirements for Line F2 – Level 1 and 2 (Horticulture), and a forthcoming textbook for Welding Level 1/Foundation Practical.
There has been some interest from other trades faculty in the system with regard to building resources for their particular trade and apprentice needs. In response to these inquires, we have made more grant funding available.
If you or another faculty member wishes to talk more about what is available and/or opportunities for projects, please get in touch with me at tcarson@bccampus.ca and we’ll talk.
Learn more:
- Call for Proposals: Open Educational Resource Development for the Trades
- Open Textbooks for Trades:
- ZTC – Open Educational Resources for Trades
- Upcoming BCcampus Online Office Hour sessions:
- Previously recorded BCcampus Online Office Hour sessions: