MESA, Arizona -- Nov. 12, 2024 --Open Education Resources (OER) textbooks for public speaking and communication, created by Mesa Community College (MCC) faculty members for the college’s Zero Textbook Degree program, are impacting students on a global scale.

MCC's five Zero Textbook Degrees, also known as Z Degrees, are full degree paths that are 100% online and have zero textbook costs for all courses. They have been developed with the highest standards and include multimedia, engaged faculty and precisely selected content.

Layne Goodman, Ed.D., and Amber Green, Ph.D., both Communication, Theatre & Film Arts faculty, collaborated on Public Speaking, Finding Your Voice drawing from their 20-plus years of experience in public speaking and communication theory. Green has also authored Small Group Communication and Small Group Communication Case Study. All three textbooks are available to the general public through Maricopa Open Digital Press (MOD)/Pressbooks (enabling authors to create, revise and share material) but they were unaware other schools were leveraging the textbooks until hearing from an instructor from an East Coast community college.

“We are excited and appreciate the fact that others are benefiting from our expertise and combined labor,” said Green. Goodman added, “We’re proud of our work and the effort we put into creating textbooks that focus on student learning. We’re happy that others are finding this collection useful.”

Public Speaking, Finding Your Voice took one year of research, writing, editing and revising to complete. Chapters include the speech making process, persuasive speaking and its elements, delivery techniques and effective arguments and fallacies.

Through Aug. 1, 2024, the textbook has been used by more than 200,000 community college, university and K-12 students throughout the world and usage has continued to build steadily since 2021 when it was first made available.

Using data that tracks usage outside the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), Goodman and Green noted that schools using the textbook include City University of New York, the Colorado Community College System, Grand Canyon University, Houston Community College, Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges, Minnesota State University, Pepperdine, Purdue University, the State University of New York, Texas Christian University, University of Phoenix and University of Wisconsin, among many others.

Among international colleges and universities incorporating the textbook into Z Degree online classrooms are the University Teknologi MARA in Malaysia and Donghai University in China.

Green’s Small Group Communication and Small Group Communication Case Study textbooks are also enjoying usage beyond the MCCCD. Data shows that usage extends across the U.S. and South America.

Goodman pointed out that the textbooks “represent a huge financial weight lifted from students. OER materials are free and MOD Press is easy to access, download and print. It’s nice to know students can obtain the information from where they are.”

Stephanie Williams, MCC eLearning Department manager, explained that the work Goodman and Green have done reflects MCC’s dedication to offering world-class faculty and relevant, quality curricula. “MCC certainly benefits from the work that these educators have done to continually grow and evolve in a fast-paced, ever-changing tech environment. We celebrate their immense success.”

For information about Zero Textbook Degrees at MCC visit mesacc.edu/online.

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Media Contact: Dawn Zimmer, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu, 480-461-7892

Mesa Community College is nationally recognized for university transfer, career and technical programs, civic engagement, service-learning and innovative approaches to education. Host to more than 24,400 students annually, MCC offers degree and certificate programs at its two campuses and additional locations. On average MCC students provide 23,000 hours of community service annually. For more than 50 years, the college has served as a resource for education, workforce development and lifelong learning. MCC is transforming student success through Guided Pathways with Integrated Support Services and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. MCC is a Hispanic Serving Institution. Nearly 50% of MCC students are the first in their families to attend college. MCC has the largest indigenous student population of all the Maricopa Community Colleges. The American Indian Institute serves students from 22 federally recognized Arizona tribes and out-of-state tribes. Our diverse student body includes hundreds of international students from around the world. Award-winning faculty are dedicated to student success, providing the education and training that empowers MCC students to attain their goals. Located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, on the traditional territories of the O'odham, Piipaash and Yavapai Peoples, MCC is one of 10 colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District. Visit mesacc.edu to learn more.

MCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org.

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. MCCCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.