Introducing BRAINOER: The Behavioral Research and Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Open Educational Repository

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience Education
• Open Educational Resources

Background:

• Traditional neuroscience textbooks present significant cost barriers for students.
• Existing textbooks may not incorporate the latest scientific discoveries and advancements.
• There is a need for accessible and up-to-date educational materials in neuroscience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a freely accessible Open Educational Resource (OER) repository for neuroscience education.
• To provide comprehensive materials for behavioral neuroscience and physiology courses.
• To address the limitations of cost and content currency in traditional textbooks.

Main Methods:

• Curated existing OER materials to build the repository.
• Organized content into 9 distinct modules covering foundational neuroscience topics.
• Structured each module with learning objectives and divided content into basic and advanced levels.

Main Results:

• Developed the Behavioral Research and Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Open Educational Repository (BRAINOER).
• BRAINOER comprises 9 modules: The Brain and Nervous System, Neurons, The Endocrine System, Neurotransmitters and Psychopharmacology, Motor Processing, Advanced Brain Functions, Sensation and Perception, Genetics and Evolution, and Research, Design, and Methods.
• Modules feature checklist learning objectives and are adaptable for full-curriculum or modular use.

Conclusions:

• BRAINOER provides a cost-effective and current alternative to traditional neuroscience textbooks.
• The modular design allows flexible integration into various course structures.
• This OER repository enhances accessibility to quality neuroscience education for students.