Principal Investigator: Nathan Whitley-Grassi, Empire State College We propose to develop and share six ecology/earth science virtual field experiences as OERs, based on the need to develop resources and expand access to scientific field-based research techniques for students learning at a distance or with other barriers to access. The OERs will consist of a series of broad and adaptable field activities supplemented with handouts and videos from the field site to provide immersion online. Our goal is to provide students with research skills needed to increase competency in the field after graduation by engaging them in common research techniques and methods for data collection and analysis. In an effort to ensure quality, each OER will be reviewed and examined for quality and accessibility. Importantly, these OERs will be part of the larger SUNY community as a resource in an online repository in the SUNY Learning Commons (SLC) that could be utilized by future Open SUNY programs. Co-PI’s and Key Partners: Audeliz Matias, Assistant Professor and Area Coordinator in Science, Center for Distance Learning, Empire State College Kevin Woo, Assistant Professor and Faculty Chair, Empire State Colleges Reports and Resources: Mid-project report

Principal Investigator: Peter Khost, Stony Brook University Funding is sought to build, pilot, revise, implement, and assess an online pedagogical and data-collection instrument and instructional video for any writing program in the SUNY system, including Open SUNY. This tool promotes the transfer of skills and knowledge from required first-year writing (FYW) classes to courses across the curriculum and beyond graduation, which research shows neither typically nor sufficiently occurs. The proposed instrument employs freeware to offer locally-adaptable templates and a system of ongoing personalized alerts for fostering the key element to successful writing transfer, metacognition: awareness of one’s own knowledge and learning needs and styles. The online instrument also simultaneously provides host departments with rare and valuable information about effects of their curriculum. No such tool for encouraging and studying students’ writing transfer beyond FYW is known to exist, and this one sustains itself indefinitely without cost after its creation. The PI also proposes to present, run workshops, and publish about this initiative. Reports and Resources: Mid-project report

Principal Investigator: Yvonne Harrison, University at Albany The Certificate of Nonprofit Management and Leadership (CNML) jointly sponsored by Rockefeller College’s Department of Public Administration and Policy and the School of Social Welfare, is dedicated to increasing access to education that meets the needs of the nonprofit sector. Designed for students and working professionals who wish to develop leadership competency or become more effective in their leadership roles, the CMNL offers five courses jointly delivered between the two schools. While the courses and program have received positive evaluations, enrolment is down and numerous requests have come from the local nonprofit community to increase access to University at Albany, SUNY nonprofit academic programming, research and professional learning initiatives. We believe that open learning is one way to increase enrollment and meet sector demand. The funding requested through the IITG tier 1 program will: Reduce barriers to nonprofit education and research by increasing access to those who need it through a Massive Open Online Course, specialty course publication (Open Textbook), and research/development initiative. Increase enrolment in University at Albany, SUNY CNML courses by targeting a new supply of students looking for accessible professional learning opportunities (i.e. within the professional nonprofit community such as managers and board members). Facilitate research on the impact of online teaching and learning effectiveness in the CNML program through the Nonprofit Governance course (e.g. Coursera MOOC, blended learning environment, flipped classroom, integration of Nonprofit Governance Open Textbook and Sponsored Research). Engage in meaningful nonprofit sector activities which will lead to improvements in the human condition, at the local and state, nationally and global levels. Co-PI’s and Key Partners: Vic Murray, Adjunct Professor and Professor Emeritus, School of Public Administration, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Cyril Oberlander, Director, Milne Library, Geneseo Reports and Resources: Mid-project report

Principal Investigator: Kelly Roe, Oswego Students across multiple departments will work collectively and collaboratively to create, and sustain a start-up e-magazine. The project centers on creative partnerships formed across departments for the purpose of simulating professional collaborations in the production creative work. This project will team writers, illustrators and graphic/media designers to produce an e-publication for distribution on Apple and Android based sites. The desired outcome is to establish an e-magazine that could be produced bi-annually. The project will initially feature work by SUNY Oswego students and hopes to expand to include partnerships with K-12 Schools from the surrounding area. Its purpose would be to provide an outlet for original creative work while also providing analysis of that work as well as technical explanation in order to allow others to build on the work. The ultimate goal is to empower students through participation in a creative enterprise with entrepreneurial possibilities that fosters expression and experimentation. Co-PI’s and Key Partners: Leigh Wilson, Creative Writing Professor, English Department, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Oswego Amy Bartell, Illustration Professor, Art Department, School of Communication Media and the Arts, Oswego Cara Thompson, Graphic Design/Multimedia Professor, Art Department, School of Communication Media and the Arts, Oswego Reports and Resources: Mid-project report