You Matter: Supporting Our Community through Reading, Writing, and More Success Strategies
Program Type
Event
Start Date and Time
11-5-2026 8:00 AM
Program Description
What began as a final means to eliminate the costly writing handbook requirement for Composition at Columbus State Community College, You Matter is becoming a one-stop OER for holistically helping students succeed before, during, and after college in Ohio. With emphasis on community building, personal growth, lifelong learning, and collaboration through written words, images, video, and activities, You Matter reimagines what a traditional academic text looks like and encourages others to bring it to life through diverse instruction and the contributions of its readership. Since its release, You Matter has been embedded in high school as well as college curriculum, while also inspiring community college Student Ambassadors to utilize it to teach their peers about taking care of themselves, engaging their community, and finding success through perseverance. This presentation will explore what makes You Matter welcoming and collaborative, will highlight the different ways this resource is being used to teach others, and will introduce the upcoming career development chapter influenced by the workforce needs and voices of Central Ohio. Learning outcomes: While attending this proposed session, participants will be able to: —Understand how this OER takes a holistic approach to helping students through academia and beyond, —Reimagine ways to create other OERs that are collaborative and inviting of readership voice; as well as —Consider the need for arts and humanities in workforce development.
You Matter: Supporting Our Community through Reading, Writing, and More Success Strategies
What began as a final means to eliminate the costly writing handbook requirement for Composition at Columbus State Community College, You Matter is becoming a one-stop OER for holistically helping students succeed before, during, and after college in Ohio. With emphasis on community building, personal growth, lifelong learning, and collaboration through written words, images, video, and activities, You Matter reimagines what a traditional academic text looks like and encourages others to bring it to life through diverse instruction and the contributions of its readership. Since its release, You Matter has been embedded in high school as well as college curriculum, while also inspiring community college Student Ambassadors to utilize it to teach their peers about taking care of themselves, engaging their community, and finding success through perseverance. This presentation will explore what makes You Matter welcoming and collaborative, will highlight the different ways this resource is being used to teach others, and will introduce the upcoming career development chapter influenced by the workforce needs and voices of Central Ohio. Learning outcomes: While attending this proposed session, participants will be able to: —Understand how this OER takes a holistic approach to helping students through academia and beyond, —Reimagine ways to create other OERs that are collaborative and inviting of readership voice; as well as —Consider the need for arts and humanities in workforce development.
