At Boise State, faculty innovation is driving a new standard for student success through the expansion of affordable learning materials. Lanny Inabnit, a clinical assistant professor in the School of Respiratory Care Sciences, is leading the charge by replacing traditional textbooks with Open Educational Resources, commonly known as OER, to reduce costs and increase classroom accessibility.
Inabnit serves Boise State respiratory care students in the online RRT-BS degree advancement program, and the Master of Science in Respiratory Care. Recognizing the financial burden of traditional media, Inabnit sought a way to maintain academic rigor while removing price barriers.
The inspiration for the project began with university-led professional development.
“I first got interested in Open Education Resources when I attended an eCampus training session,” Inabnit said. “I have always been an advocate for utilizing the most cost-effective course materials and this training got me thinking about creating a resource for a new course I was developing. I signed up for more OER courses and next thing I know I was building an OER.”
Inabnit developed a digital textbook for RespCare 447: Evidence-Based Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Disease Outcomes. The resulting resource, Principles of Evidence-Based Practice and Epidemiology, was compiled from various open-source materials and is now freely available to students online.
The transition has been met with positive feedback from students who benefit from immediate, free access to their course materials. Inabnit credits the university’s infrastructure for the project’s success.
“I appreciate the work the Center for Teaching and Learning and eCampus puts into the training and guidance that they offer all faculty,” Inabnit said. “This gives us the opportunity to collaborate with so many others from across the campus. I appreciate being acknowledged alongside some amazing peers who also worked to create affordable options for students.”
Inabnit plans to continue developing OER materials for additional courses, further expanding the university’s library of openly licensed resources. He noted that the support from the school, college, and university was instrumental in developing a resource that helps students “navigate the topics at a deeper level.”
Inabnit’s work serves as a model for how faculty-led innovation can enhance equitable access to high-impact teaching at Boise State.
Boise State has three respiratory care programs: On Campus Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care Program, Registered Respiratory Therapy-Bachelor of Science Degree Advancement Online Program and Master of Science in Respiratory Care.