Van “DocDoc” Whaley (Kinesiology & Nutrition Sciences), faculty-in-residence and A&P program coordinator, recently presented at ExplOER Nevada 2026, a statewide virtual symposium focused on open and affordable learning.

His session, "Reimagining Learning Beyond the Textbook: Open Course Design for Equity, Rigor, and Enjoyment at Scale," highlighted how UNLV’s large-enrollment Anatomy & Physiology courses—serving more than 1,200 students each semester — have been redesigned using open course infrastructure.

Whaley shared strategies including instructor-created lecture videos, centralized course navigation, blueprint-based exam design, and structured in-person learning experiences that support equity, student engagement, and academic rigor at scale.

Designed for faculty, instructional designers, librarians, and administrators, the session emphasized transferable practices that extend beyond a single discipline and demonstrated how scalable course design can improve student success in gateway science courses.