Brad Stetson, Associate Professor of Mathematics, won the Edfinity Award for “Technology-enabled Innovation in Improving Student Access to Quality Learning Resources.” The award recognized his efforts with open educational resources (OERs) in Schoolcraft College’s mathematics courses. OERs are teaching or learning materials that are in the public domain.

Specific to the Edfinity Award, Stetson developed online courses that utilized free learning resources, including videos. The courses covered were Math 047 (Prealgebra), Math 111 (Applications: Utilities of Math), Math 113 (Intermediate Algebra) and Math 122 (Elementary Statistics).

In some cases, the only cost to a student was a calculator. Further, this option has helped students remain in these math classes.

“We have noticed a significant difference in the retention of students in sections using OER materials,” Stetson said. “There are fewer students dropping the courses.”

Stetson’s work at Schoolcraft College focuses on Distance Learning education. He has developed a number of online math courses and continues to teach courses online on a regular basis. In his face-to-face classroom he likes to integrate technology as a way to supplement instruction whenever possible.

Together with a team from the Distance Learning Department, Stetson has helped to design the professional development series of courses for instructors wishing to teach in Distance Learning or to develop online courses. He also continues to teach these courses for Schoolcraft faculty.

Edfinity provides ready-to-go homework mapped to dozens of courses and textbooks. The award is supported by the National Science Foundation in conjunction with MichMATYC, which is the state affiliate of the American Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges (AMATYC).