Chippewa Valley Technical College Respiratory Therapy Instructor, Kirsten Holbrook, has penned “Respiratory Therapy: An Open Workbook for the Entry-to-Practice Student,” published by WisTech Open, the Wisconsin Technical College System’s hub for openly licensed educational resources. This free resource provides essential hands-on learning for students preparing to enter the respiratory care profession.
This workbook, tailored to the needs of entry-level respiratory therapy students, reinforces key concepts through active learning and real-world application. With exercises aligned to core competencies and current clinical practices, the resource is ideal for use in respiratory therapy programs across higher education.
Created to support student success and accessibility, the workbook is fully open access and licensed under Creative Commons, removing cost barriers for learners while aligning closely with industry standards and accreditation requirements.
“This workbook was developed to bridge the gap between the classroom and the clinical setting,” Holbrook said. “It gives students opportunities to actively engage with the material and apply their knowledge in meaningful ways—preparing them not just to pass exams, but to care for real patients with confidence.”
Vince Mussehl, WisTech Open director, said this open textbook is expected to support more than 550 respiratory therapy students throughout Wisconsin’s technical colleges.
“It’s a great example of how open education can strengthen programs and improve learning outcomes,” Mussehl said.
