In 2017 Geography went to the Pitts… (that is me…)…I learned at that time that college textbook prices were out of pace and made college that much more difficult for students to attend.

I wanted to do my part… I looked into a free online book and found Michael E. Ritter’s “The Physical Environment An Introduction to Physical Geography” free Online Educational Resource e-book.

In Summer 2020 in the midst of a pandemic I learned that Michael Ritter would be retiring his book. He was kind enough to share the source information and I decided to take it on… I hope to make changes as needed and add material but most importantly I want to keep this resource available for those of us who relied on the content for the instruction of our students.

This course provides a general overview of databases, including topics such as database history, modern database systems, the different models used to design a database, and Structured Query Language (SQL), which is the standard language used to access and manipulate databases. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: compare and contrast the database approach and the file system approach; explain what a database management system is as well as the various components; identify the various people involved in database management systems; explain the historical background of database management systems; compare the various database models; describe the functions of a database management system; explain the three-schema database architecture; describe what tables, indexes, and views are as well as discuss the differences among them; explain the entity-relationship model; develop an entity-relationship model based on user requirements; describe the relational database model; explain the process of normalization; convert an entity-relationship diagram to a set of normalized relations; explain referential integrity; identify how relational algebra is used to construct queries; describe and use data definition commands; describe and use data manipulation commands; explain how to join tables together for queries. (Computer Science 403)

Library and Information Science (LIS) is the academic and professional study of how information and information carriers are produced, disseminated, discovered, evaluated, selected, acquired, used, organized, maintained, and managed. This book intends to introduce the reader to fundamental concerns and emerging conversations in the field of library and information science.

A secondary goal of this book is to introduce readers to prominent writers, articles, and books within the field of library science. The book originated as a collection of annotations of important LIS articles. Though these citations are being developed into a fuller text, we hope that this book remains firmly rooted in the literature of LIS and related fields, and helps direct readers toward important resources when a particular topic strikes their fancy.

The course presents an overview of the history and structure of modern operating systems, analyzing in detail each of the major components of an operating system, and exploring more advanced topics in the field, such as security concerns. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: explain what an operating system does and how it is used; identify the various components of a computer system and how they interact with an operating system; describe the differences between a 32-bit and 64-bit operating system; explain the different types of operating systems and the major ones in use today; discuss the importance and use of threads and processes in an operating system; describe concurrency; explain the difference between a thread and a process; discuss context switching and how it is used in an operating system; describe synchronization; explain a race condition; discuss interprocess communication; describe how semaphores can be used in an operating system; discuss three of the classic synchronization problems; explain the alternatives to semaphores; discuss CPU scheduling and its relevance to operating systems; explain the general goals of CPU scheduling; describe the differences between pre-emptive and non-preemptive scheduling; discuss four CPU scheduling algorithms; explain what deadlock is in relation to operating systems; discuss deadlock prevention, avoidance, and their differences; describe deadlock detection and recovery; explain the memory hierarchy; discuss how the operating system interacts with memory; describe how virtual memory works; discuss three algorithms for dynamic memory allocation; explain methods of memory access; describe paging and page replacement algorithms; describe a file system and its purpose; discuss various file allocation methods; explain disk allocation and associated algorithms; discuss types of security threats; describe the various types of malware; explain basic security techniques; explain basic networking principles; discuss protocols and how they are used; explain reference models, particularly TCP/IP and OSI. (Computer Science 401)

C is the most commonly used programming language for writing operating systems. The first operating system written in C is Unix. Later operating systems like GNU/Linux were all written in C. Not only is C the language of operating systems, it is the precursor and inspiration for almost all of the most popular high-level languages available today. In fact, Perl, PHP, Python and Ruby are all written in C. By way of analogy, let's say that you were going to be learning Spanish, Italian, French, or Portuguese. Do you think knowing Latin would be helpful? Just as Latin was the basis of all of those languages, knowing C will enable you to understand and appreciate an entire family of programming languages built upon the traditions of C. Knowledge of C enables freedom.

Short Description:
If you are looking for a quick study guide in Computer Studies, this book is an excellent resource. Skip the lengthy and distracting books and instead use this book to guide your studies, review your knowledge, or help with tutoring. This book quickly gets to the heart of each particular topic, helping students with a quick review before doing homework or preparing for a test.

Long Description:
If you are looking for a quick study guide in Computer Studies, this book is an excellent resource. Skip the lengthy and distracting books and instead use this book to guide your studies, review your knowledge, or help with tutoring. This book quickly gets to the heart of each particular topic, helping students with a quick review before doing homework or preparing for a test.

Word Count: 22107

ISBN: 978-1-77420-085-8

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

This is a fast-paced introductory course to the C++ programming language. It is intended for those with little programming background, though prior programming experience will make it easier, and those with previous experience will still learn C++-specific constructs and concepts.

This eBook was written as the sequel to the eBook titled DC Circuits, which was written in 2016 by Chad Davis.
This eBook covers Alternating Current (AC) circuit theory as well us a brief introduction of electronics. It is
broken up into seven modules. Module 1 covers the basic theory of AC signals. Since only DC sources are used in
the first eBook, details of AC signals such as sinusoidal waveforms (or sine waves), square waves, and triangle
waves are provided. Module 2, titled AC Circuits Math Background, covers the mathematics background needed
for solving AC circuit problems. The background material in Modules 1 and 2 are combined in Module 3 to solve
circuits with AC sources that include resistors, inductors, and capacitors (RLC circuits).

In this unit, students look at the components of cells and their functions and discover the controversy behind stem cell research. The first lesson focuses on the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. In the second lesson, students learn about the basics of cellular respiration. They also learn about the application of cellular respiration to engineering and bioremediation. The third lesson continues students' education on cells in the human body and how (and why) engineers are involved in the research of stem cell behavior.

This book is a guide to JavaScript, a scripting language widely used in web pages and web applications such as email applications. JavaScript is not to be confused with Java, which is quite a separate language for creating stand-alone applications.

This course will cover an introduction to XML and it provides a hands-on experience of creating XML Documents using Schema, Namespaces, XSLT and XPath. It covers how to work with JQuery and implementation of AJAX using XML and JSON.

Toward Closing the Healthcare Communication Gap

Short Description:
Health Case Studies is composed of eight separate health case studies. Each case study includes the patient narrative or story that models the best practice (at the time of publishing) in healthcare settings. Associated with each case is a set of specific learning objectives to support learning and facilitate educational strategies and evaluation.

Long Description:
Health Case Studies is composed of eight separate health case studies. Each case study includes the patient narrative or story that models the best practice (at the time of publishing) in healthcare settings. Associated with each case is a set of specific learning objectives to support learning and facilitate educational strategies and evaluation.

The case studies can be used online in a learning management system, in a classroom discussion, in a printed course pack or as part of a textbook created by the instructor. This flexibility is intentional and allows the educator to choose how best to convey the concepts presented in each case to the learner.

Because these case studies were primarily developed for an electronic healthcare system, they are based predominantly in an acute healthcare setting. Educators can augment each case study to include primary healthcare settings, outpatient clinics, assisted living environments, and other contexts as relevant.

Word Count: 64593

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically as part of a bulk import process by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided. As a result, there may be errors in formatting.)

This OER Nursing Textbook focuses on the use of critical thinking in nursing practice. The definition of critical thinking and the application of critical thinking skills in clinical practice, leadership, communication, quality improvement, and more is included. Each chapter includes images, critical thinking exercises, discussions, and activities. This textbook is found at https://thepraxisofcriticalthinkinginnursing.yolasite.com/

The Community Tool Box is a free, online resource for those working to build healthier communities and bring about social change. Our mission is to promote community health and development by connecting people, ideas, and resources. The Community Tool Box is a public service developed and managed by the KU Center for Community Health and Development and partners nationally and internationally. The Tool Box is a part of the Center’s role as a designated World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Community Health and Development.

Professors and instructors from various disciplines use the Community Tool Box as a resource for their teaching. The Tool Box is often used as course text in the fields of public health, community psychology, nursing, social welfare, and other applied fields.

Chapter 1. Our Model for Community Change and Improvement
Chapter 2. Other Models for Promoting Community Health and Development
Chapter 3. Assessing Community Needs and Resources
Chapter 4. Getting Issues on the Public Agenda
Chapter 5. Choosing Strategies to Promote Community Health and Development
Chapter 6. Communications to Promote Interest
Chapter 7. Encouraging Involvement in Community Work
Chapter 8. Developing a Strategic Plan
Chapter 9. Developing an Organizational Structure for the Initiative
Chapter 10. Hiring and Training Key Staff of Community Organizations
Chapter 11. Recruiting and Training Volunteers
Chapter 12. Providing Training and Technical Assistance
Chapter 13. Orienting Ideas in Leadership
Chapter 14. Core Functions in Leadership
Chapter 15. Becoming an Effective Manager
Chapter 16. Group Facilitation and Problem-Solving
Chapter 17. Analyzing Community Problems and Solutions
Chapter 18. Deciding Where to Start
Chapter 19. Choosing and Adapting Community Interventions
Chapter 20. Providing Information and Enhancing Skills
Chapter 21. Enhancing Support, Incentives, and Resources
Chapter 22. Youth Mentoring Programs
Chapter 23. Modifying Access, Barriers, and Opportunities
Chapter 24. Improving Services
Chapter 25. Changing Policies
Chapter 26. Changing the Physical and Social Environment
Chapter 27. Cultural Competence in a Multicultural World
Chapter 28. Spirituality and Community Building
Chapter 29. The Arts and Community Building
Chapter 30. Principles of Advocacy
Chapter 31. Conducting Advocacy Research
Chapter 32. Providing Encouragement and Education
Chapter 33. Conducting a Direct Action Campaign
Chapter 34. Media Advocacy
Chapter 35. Responding to Counterattacks
Chapter 36. Introduction to Evaluation
Chapter 37. Operations in Evaluating Community Interventions
Chapter 38. Some Methods for Evaluating Comprehensive Community Initiatives
Chapter 39. Using Evaluation to Understand and Improve the Initiative
Chapter 40. Maintaining Quality Performance
Chapter 41. Rewarding Accomplishments
Chapter 42. Getting Grants and Financial Resources
Chapter 43. Managing Finances
Chapter 44. Investing in Community Resources
Chapter 45. Social Marketing of Successful Components of the Initiative
Chapter 46. Planning for Sustainability

Sample syllabi are also available: https://ctb.ku.edu/en/teaching-with-the-community-tool-box

Readers will learn about the nature of health, health education, health promotion and related concepts. This will help to understand the social, psychological and physical components of health.

This book is directed mainly towards beginning programmers, although it might also be useful for experienced programmers who want to learn something about Java. It is certainly not meant to provide complete coverage of the Java language.

Database Design - 2nd Edition covers database systems and database design concepts. New to this edition are SQL info, additional examples, key terms and review exercises at the end of each chapter.

Short Description:
This short guidebook provides information about selecting a research topic and research questions, searching for literature, reading and understanding scholarly writing, and writing a literature review to synthesize what is known and what remains to be learned about a social problem. For students who appreciate the availability of resources on the internet, it also provides links to additional materials. It can be used with its companion textbook, Foundations of Social Work Research by Rebecca L. Mauldin and Matthew DeCarlo, or as a stand-alone guide.

Long Description:
As an introductory textbook for social work students studying research methods, this book guides students through the process of writing a literature review and determining research questions for a research project. Students will learn how to discover a researchable topic that is interesting to them, examine scholarly literature, and write a literature review. The guidebook is aligned with the Council on Social Work Education’s 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. Students and faculty can download copies of this guidebook using the links provided in the front matter. As an open textbook, users are free to retain copies, redistribute copies (non-commercially), revise the contents, remix it with other works, and reuse for any purpose.

Word Count: 31630

ISBN: 978-1-64816-992-2

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Management Information Systems (MIS) is a formal discipline within business education that bridges the gap between computer science and the well-known business disciplines of finance, marketing, and management.