Open education using open pedagogy in recruiting and preparing graduate scholars in social and behavioral health (SBH)

Open education is a practice that facilitates free access to learning materials and the sharing of educational resources/methods. Open pedagogy entails a methodology that involves students in the creation of knowledge. Utilizing open pedagogy in facilitating open education, a faculty member at UNLV and his team have been implementing monthly webinars among prospective graduate scholars and existing graduate scholars for the past two years. Presently, the number of participants is 42, of whom about half are prospective scholars, and some prospective scholars have enrolled. One such prospective scholar who joined this year shares her experience, which entails presenting studies, regular completion by scholars of research skills checklists developed by the faculty member, discussions facilitated between existing and prospective students, sharing of anecdotal research experiences by students and the faculty member, and participation in Social and Behavioral Health (SBH) professional papers, theses, and dissertation presentations. The resources developed during the webinar are freely shared with all participants. This model can be replicated to enhance recruitment and capacity building of graduate students by other programs.