After taking my first swim in the V-A-S-T OER ocean…

I ponder...Was it worth it??

Cindy Trujillo, Spokane Community College

Which way is UP?! “I’m so disoriented…NOTHING looks familiar!” “I thought I knew how to use YouTube…but I was WRONG!” “I don’t even know how to start! Swim down deeper into

danger so you can eventually swim up to the light?! Huh??!!”

I’m spinning and swirling, surrounded by CC’s, BY, NC’s, SA’s, ND’s SA’s – when will it stop?!?!

I’m lost at SEA! “Will I end up hundreds and hundreds of miles (hours)

away, no better off?” “Will there be an SBCTC lifeboat waiting for me?” “Will I ever be able to swim in the ocean again without

fear?”

The dangerous undertow

The STING of fear – “WHAT IF I attribute something

incorrectly?” of incompetence – “I will NEVER master this!” of frustration – “Where did that link GO?!” of exhaustion – “I have to find a better

resource – it’s out there SOMEWHERE and I will exhaust myself until it’s located!”

of remorse - “I need fresh, clean, cold water! Oh, I miss those predictable TEXTBOOKS!”

The stinging salt

But WAIT!The sun is now setting,

the wind has died down, and the waves have stilled…

NOW WHAT DO I SEE?

“I am inspired by all of the people who swam before me…and SURVIVED!”

“I can finally shed myself of the anchors that publishers attached to me!”

I feel lighter, healthier, rejuvenated after that looong swim.”

Yes, there are great tools out there to help me float again – especially that OPEN ATTRIBUTION BUILDER!!

My students respect the journey that I took for them and see me as a COOL & MODERN prof!

RENEWAL

“I had NO IDEA how many amazingly unique critters are in this ocean!”

“The deeper I go, the more awe-inspiring treasures I find!”

There are so many more beautiful colors and shapes in this ocean than in that boring, rectangular, and regulated pool!

Chlorine SUCKS! Sea Salt ROCKS! (Enough said!)

BIODIVERSITY