Dr. Angela McGowan-Kirsch
Department of Communication faculty have co-edited a new open instruction book that empowers students as active creators of knowledge.
“Emphasizing a Student-Centered Process: Open Pedagogy Course Assessments Across Disciplines” highlights these educational practices. The volume explores how open educational practices (OEP) can foster deeper student engagement, critical thinking and inclusive learning environments.
Co-editors are Associate Professor Angela McGowan-Kirsch and Adjunct Lecturer Kelly Soczka Steidinger. Dr. McGowan-Kirsh and Ms. Steidinger, who is also a behavioral science and communication instructor at Mid-State Technical College, WS, previously taught together at Winona State University.
Published by Milne Open Textbooks, this collection showcases a variety of approaches to open pedagogy from educators across diverse fields, including engineering, communication and interdisciplinary studies. The book provides practical, real-world examples of how educators can use student-centered assessments to create inclusive classrooms.
Highlights from the publication include:
- Collaborative syllabus design that promotes student ownership;
- Creative assessments using art and technology;
- Research-based learning with open tools like EarthCam;
- Ethical engagement with AI-generated content;
- Institutional models for scaling open pedagogy
The practices presented in the book are directly connected to what happens in courses McGowan-Kirsch and Steidinger teach.
“For instance, Kelly has implemented the AI Exam assessment in one of her classes. This approach aligns with the open pedagogy model by encouraging critical engagement and real-world application,” McGowan-Kirsch explained.
The project was made possible through a collaboration with Open Fredonia, with financial support from Daniel Reed Library and the Carnahan Jackson Fund for the Humanities of the Fredonia College Foundation, the SUNY Fredonia Office of the Provost through the SUNY Student Retention Grant and SUNY OER Services through the 2023 Impact Grant.
Reflecting on the process, McGowan-Kirsch noted, “We are deeply grateful to Reed Librarian Christina Hilburger for her invaluable contributions to this project. Her expertise in open educational practices and open pedagogy greatly enriched the development of the book’s introduction and conclusion.”
Ms. Hilburger added, “This project shows what is possible when faculty, staff and students collaborate to reimagine learning. It was an honor to help highlight the ways open pedagogy empowers students as co-creators of knowledge.”
Dawn Eckenrode, in the role of Professional Development Center director and co-lead of the SUNY OER/OEP Grant, emphasized the broader impact: “This book demonstrates the power of open pedagogy to transform teaching and learning. Through the support of the OER/OEP Impact Grant, we’ve been able to showcase how SUNY faculty are leading the way in creating equitable, student-centered educational models.”
The book is available for free download as a PDF, can be read online or purchased in print at the Milne Publishing website
