SPC preps for 2026 with Star Award-winning OER, AI course redesign

Open educational resources and artificial intelligence are innovating technical education across South Plains College as faculty prepare for the Spring 2026 semester.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board granted a 2025 Star Award to SPC for its strides in AI-augmented OER course redesign, an approach to education that the College continues to leverage this year.

“SPC is extremely grateful to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for the 2025 Star Award, but most importantly, we are grateful for the state’s dedication to OER development,” Ryan Gibbs, SPC vice president of academic affairs, said. “We recognize that OER is the future of course content delivery in terms of quality and affordability. SPC is honored to lead the way for our state in this endeavor.”

SPC has redesigned 65 technical education courses across several departments to streamline students’ transition from college to the workforce. Instructor-created content provides quick access to industry concepts and increases the time students apply skills in the lab versus sitting in a classroom.

OER in programs including automotive technology and welding integrates AI to focus coursework on simulations and learning scenarios that emulate the challenges students will face in the workplace.

“OER in technical education programs eliminates the cost of textbooks and career-ready equipment essential for both coursework and jobsite readiness,” Jimmy Stratton, chairperson of SPC’s Industrial Technology Department, said. “When used responsibly as a supportive tool, rather than a replacement for instruction, AI can be instrumental in advancing student success while preserving the instructor’s intent and alignment with established learning outcomes.”

To learn more about SPC’s use of OER, visit the College’s Instructional Technology webpage.

 

PHOTO CAPTION: The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board honored South Plains College with a 2025 Star Award for innovating its coursework with open educational resources and artificial intelligence during the Higher EDge 2025 conference in December at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center in Austin. Pictured from the left are THECB Commissioner Dr. Wynn Rosser, SPC Instructional Designer Heather Medley and SPC Industrial Technology Department Chair Jimmy Stratton. (Photo courtesy of THECB)