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OER & ZTC: Open Educational Resources & Zero-Textbook Cost Classes

A guide for faculty about OER & ZTC at El Camino College.

Textbooks

book coverThe FCTC Study Guide (2017): Cal-JAC.

A preparatory guide for the written exam for the California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee. 

  • FCTC (Firefighter Candidate Testing Center)

book cover CPAT Preparation Guide (2007): Cal-JAC. 

A preparatory guide for the Candidate Physical Ability Test for aspiring firefighters. 


 

  • CFFJAC (California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee)

book coverForest Fire edited by by Janusz Szmyt (2018): IntechOpen.

A collection of articles addressing environmental, technological, social, and meteorological aspects of forest fires. 


Progress in Combustion Diagnostics, Science and Technology by Paul Medwell, Michael Evans and Shaun Chanbook cover
 (2020): MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. CC BY

This book includes a series of 17 research studies that reveal new knowledge about combustion and its application. The topics covered span diverse areas associated with combustion including: fires, engines and applications, and acoustics. In addition to power production, understanding combustion also plays a critical role in both managing fires and the materials synthesis sectors. To meet the objectives of progress and innovation in combustion science, new experimental measurements are needed and complemented by computational approaches.

Courses

The Effect of Fires on People, Property and the Environment (Coursera/University of Maryland)

Fires impact people, property and the environment in all countries around the world. In some cases, the resulting losses are extraordinary, causing hundreds of deaths, widespread damage to property and contents and significant impacts on the environment. More often, fires may cause a single casualty or affect a single home, though the effects are still highly significant to those affected and collectively are substantial. This course will provide an overview of the challenges posed by fire as well as the fire safety solutions that are available to meet those challenges.

 

Advanced Fire Weather Forecasters Course (MetEd)

The Advanced Fire Weather Forecasters Distance Learning Course addresses advanced training needs of Incident Meteorologists (IMETs), Fire Weather Program Leaders (FWPLs) in NOAA's NWS weather forecast offices (WFOs), and Regional Program Managers. These individuals are responsible for maintaining local fire weather programs and supporting all-hazards incidents onsite including wildfires, hazardous material releases, and incidents of national significance.

 

Fire Forensics: Claims and Evidence (ulxplorlabs)

The videos and interactive investigations within the Fire Forensics: Claims and Evidence module are designed to be applicable in a whole-class or for students to engage with independently. Classroom investigations, including detailed teacher guides and student pages, provide opportunities to deepen student understandings through hands-on experiences with the principles of fire introduced in the module, along with practice building claims from evidence gathered through observations and measurement.

 

Improving Understanding and Collaboration Among First Responders (Johns Hopkins Open)

This unique training addresses the institutional culture of five responder groups: law enforcement, EMS, fire, public health, and private security in an attempt at fostering understanding among these groups. This presentation's content is part of a non-credit, professional development training generated by JHU faculty and the Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health Preparedness.

 

Fire Science and Technology (CTE Online)

A fire fighter is an emergency safety professional who responds to fire scenes to extinguish fires and assist fire victims. Many fire fighters are certified first responders, meaning they can assist victims by providing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and other basic life saving techniques. This course provides students with an introduction in the history of fire fighting, basic firefighting skills, personnel rules and regulations, professional organizations and standards, elementary fire behavior, fire control techniques, firefighting tactics and strategy, fire ground safety and operations, apparatus and equipment operation and maintenance, fire investigation, report writing, wild land training, and physical fitness.

Additional Resources

Basic Fire Fighter Manual (First Nations of British Columbia)

Fire Career Resources (Houston Community College)

Fire Engineering Resources (fireengineering.com)

Fire Safety Community Portal (MERLOT)

Fire Science Core Curriculum (Oregon State University Extension Service)

Firefighter Skills Task Book (Indiana State Government)

International Association for Fire Safety Science

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Watching for Wind: An Effort to Get the Upper Hand on Wildfire (U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit)