Casanova-Villalba César Iván - Author / Maybelline Jaqueline - Author / Rivadeneira – Moreira César - Author / Ramos – Secaira Francisco Marcelo - Author / Bueno-Moyano Franklin Roberto - Author

2026 · Book · Open Access

Las instituciones del sector público deben acogerse a las necesidades emanadas por sus usuarios, por esto son controladas por diferentes entidades gubernamentales y cumplen diferentes normativas legales. Bajo este enfoque surgen diferentes metodologías para la eficiencia y eficacia, el libro responde a un modelo “Kaizen” pero bajo la metodología gubernamental de Gobierno por Resultados. El modelo presentado utiliza herramientas de calidad como identificación de las mudas que corresponden a los desperdicios, aplicación de las 5s que es una metodología aplicada a la limpieza, orden, planificación, seguridad y autodisciplina, estas dos herramientas bajo un esquema PHVA que no es más que el proceso de planificar, hacer, verificar y actuar. Para poder aplicar este modelo se debe obtener datos de los procesos y actividades, con lo cual se tiene un antecedente y poder medir el cumplimiento de los objetivos institucionales

Why play works: Conceptual PlayWorlds inspiring learning, imagination and creativity in education

Marilyn Fleer - Author / Kelly-Ann Allen - Author / Anne Clerc-Georgy - Author / Leigh Disney - Author / Liang Li - Author / Lara McKinley - Author / Gloria Quinones - Author / Prabhat Rai - Author / Janet Scull - Author / Anne Suryani - Author

2026 · Book · Open Access

The focus of this textbook is on play and learning through a Conceptual PlayWorld. This evidence informed model helps teachers to plan innovative practices relevant for a range of discipline concepts. The teachers and children after reading/hearing a children’s book or nursery rhyme or fairytale jump into the story as characters from the book/story, go on adventures, meet challenges that they solve and return to the real world enriched, and excited to go back in for another adventure (potentially bringing with them things they have learned to enrich their play). The 5 characteristics of planning for a Conceptual PlayWorld are: 1) Selecting a story, 2) Designing an imaginary play space; 3) Planning an exciting entry and entry into that space; 4) Planning a problem that the characters of the story (children in role) will meet and need to solve using concepts; 5) Planning the role of the adults in the imaginary play. This evidence-informed model forms the foundation of each chapter in the book. Students will learn: ● what is a Conceptual PlayWorld ● the research that underpins a Conceptual PlayWorld ● how to plan and implement a Conceptual PlayWorld ● how to contextualise a Conceptual PlayWorld for specific ages, contexts and discipline content ● how to assess and make learning visible in a Conceptual PlayWorld ● to be leaders and innovators by designing creative and imaginative programs using a Conceptual PlayWorld model of pedagogical practice ● the utility of Conceptual PlayWorlds for creativity, imagination, and wellbeing.

Why Do I Have to Take This Course? A Guide to General Education [Revised Edition]

Kisha G. Tracy - Author

2026 · Book · Open Access

Why Do I Have to Take This Course? A Guide to General Education developed out of many years of thinking about general education courses and curriculums. We, as university personnel, do not always succeed in explaining why we have certain requirements. Even though these courses make up a significant percentage of our college careers, there is not often time set aside to talk about general education and explore its purpose and goals. When we do not know the reason why we are doing something, it can sometimes lead to apathy and even resentment. Once we have an idea of the purpose, then we can start to appreciate and learn. It is worthwhile to spend some time thinking about these purposes, both “official” and personal ones, in order to maximize student learning. This textbook helps students systematically study how general education requirements are developed, their history, post-graduation value, etc. It emphasizes exploration of the significance of individual learning outcomes, especially through the lens of John Lewis’ philosophy of “good, necessary trouble.” For instructors adopting this book, it is designed to assign in its entirety or in parts as instructors can choose to emphasize relevant learning outcomes. It is also designed for use by advisors, especially with advisees who express concerns over taking certain requirements.

Western Civilization: A Concise History Volume 3

Christopher Brooks - Author

2026 · Book · Open Access

Western Civilization: A Concise History is an Open Educational Resource textbook covering the history of Western Civilization from approximately 8000 BCE to the recent past. The textbook is divided into three volumes. The core narrative of the textbook is a political history of the greater Mediterranean region in the ancient period in Volume 1, Europe and European empires in the medieval and early modern periods in Volume 2, and both European and world history in the modern period in Volume 3. Elements of intellectual, cultural, social, and religious history are present throughout, but the main focus of the text is politics over time.