Textbooks can cost more than tuition,AI‑powered OER wipes that cost out entirely. In this conversation, Dr. Sarah Harmon, Adjunct Professor of Spanish and Linguistics, OER / ZTC Coordinator at Cañada College, and Chair of the SMCCCD Academic Senate Standing Committee on Teaching and Learning (DTLC), lays out the five‑spoke ZTC Wheelthat drives course material costs to $0 without sacrificing rigor. She then shows how LibreTexts’ machine translation delivers 90 %‑accurate Spanish and French editions in minutes and shares simple Creative Commons tips that keep lawyers happy while inviting global remix. Along the way, Harmon connects Universal Design for Learning with higher retention and offers open‑pedagogy ideas that turn students into co‑authors.

Can a chatbot rewrite your toughest assignments in under five minutes? In this episode, Dr. Norma Jones talks with Scott James—an instructional-design veteran who began in disability services and now builds AI copilots for faculty. Scott explains how his PlayLab custom-bot lets instructors quarantine course materials, slash hallucinations, and surface crystal-clear rubrics—all without surrendering academic voice. He also shares why swapping text-only discussion boards for video collabs is boosting authenticity and how a Star-Wars-themed remix keeps his online class buzzing. 

Professor Scott James Playlab Chatbots

Classroom and Textbook Companion: https://www.playlab.ai/project/cm9k4twc108g6ojih3lbvwm83

AI Redesign:

https://www.playlab.ai/project/cma2sos8l1wkbrgigtms5xuxh

Welcome to Tinker Lab, a dynamic new segment of Innovating Higher Ed. In this episode, host Dr. Norma Jones tests OpenAI’s powerful ChatGPT Pro and its premium Deep Research feature. Norma shares her firsthand experience using AI to draft and enhance chapters for an Open Educational Resources (OER) textbook on Public Speaking. Discover how ChatGPT Pro helped identify gaps, suggested valuable updates, and surfaced innovative best practices—especially in accessibility and presentation effectiveness. Step into the lab as we experiment, challenge assumptions, and ignite fresh ideas to elevate teaching and learning in higher education.

In this compelling episode of the Innovating Higher Ed Podcast, Dr. Norma Jones sits down with Dr. Suha Aljuboori—a visionary educator whose passion for teaching led her from the war-torn reality of Iraq, through rebuilding her career in Jordan, and ultimately to establishing one of the first AI departments in the California community college system. Discover how Dr. Aljuboori overcame language barriers, raised three daughters in unfamiliar environments, and ignited a spark in young women through her robotics camps. Hear her inspirational story of starting from scratch in a new country and learn how she harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to lift others, cultivate resilience, and create lasting impact in higher education.

Nine in ten rookie nurses freeze during their first real code—no matter how many textbooks they’ve aced. What if they could practice the chaos in a headset first? In this episode, Dr. Norma Jones talks with Dr. Jenna Zeller, Assistant Director of Cabrillo College’s nursing program, about a layered VR workflow that lets students “fail safe,” page a cranky on-call physician, and still make it to lab with a smile. Zeller reveals how she bought Oculus headsets before she even had a lesson plan and why adding a simple “switch!” command keeps every observer on their toes. The payoff: sharper clinical judgment, lower anxiety, and a bump in lab attendance.

Take-aways

Can a VR headset and two smart prompts rekindle student belonging in a single class period?

Take-aways

Eighty-six percent of students already lean on AI—yet only 22 percent of faculty have even opened ChatGPT.

Take-aways