Quick - the basics!
OER are:
teaching, learning, and research resources that are free of cost and access barriers, and which also carry legal permission for open use. Generally, this permission is granted by use of an open license... which allows anyone to freely use, adapt and share the resource— anytime, anywhere.
Often in OER organizations and projects, you will find a saying much like the three R's of recycling. For OER, it is the five R's:
- Retain
- Users have the right to make, archive, and ‘own’ copies of the content.
- Reuse
- Content can be reused in its unaltered form.
- Revise
- Content can be adapted, adjusted, modified or altered; [users] have the ability to change the information presented in the OER.
- Remix
- The original or revised content can be combined with other content to create something new.
- Redistribute
- Copies of the content can be shared with others in its original, revised, or remixed form. SPARC, Open Education.
To quickly summarize the potential benefits of OER:
For Students
- Lower costs of attending university
- Less of a loan burden after school, reducing payments and defaults
For Faculty
- More control over instruction
- More diverse course content
- Reducing the need to deal with publishers and the bookstore
- Students having course materials at the start of the semester
For the University
- Improvements in retention, graduation, and loan default rates.
As Perceived by Faculty (Chae & Jenkins, 2015)
- Lack of time
- Uninviting climate
- Copyright uncertainty
- Lack of technology and technology skills
- Difficulty in reviewing materials
- Difference in course specifications
Additionally
- Accessibility
- Sustainability
- Regulations
The guide will be updated periodically based on newly found resources and faculty feedback.
Definitions
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What is OER, Creative CommonsProvides definitions of OER for various organizations.
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Creative Commons: Open EducationThis resources discusses Open Educational Resources.
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Defining and Creating Open ContentThis resource outlines and makes suggestions about OER.
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Open Textbooks Guide (Student PIRGs)A guide about OER.
Understanding Creative Common Licenses
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Creative Commons LicensesMany OER resources are licensed through a Creative Commons license. This resource describes and informs on the different licenses available through the Creative Commons.
Creative Common Icons
| CC Icon | Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
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BY | Attribution – one must cite the source if used. |
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NC | Noncommercial – one cannot make money off of it. |
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SA | Share Alike – one can only reuse the resource if your CC license is the same as theirs. |
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ND | No Derivatives – one cannot alter and redistribute the derivative work |
Creating OER
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Open WashingtonProvides a short workshop to learn about OER, links to OER resources (many already on this LibGuide), an attribution builder, and OER stories.
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Writing an Online, Open Textbook: Is it Worth it?A blog entry discussing the author's decision for and experience with writing an open textbook.
Further Information
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Fixing the Broken Textbook Market (3rd edition)An updated report created by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund and the Student PIRGs.
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Foundations for OER Strategy DevelopmentThe purpose of this document is to provide a concise analysis of where the global OER movement currently stands: what the common threads are, where the greatest opportunities and challenges lie, and how we can more effectively work together as a community.
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OER Impact MapOER Impact Map is a record of evidence about the global impact of open educational resources (OER). The purpose is to help people understand the impact of open educational resources (OER).
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MATHMLMake math online accessible. MathML is a low-level specification for mathematical and scientific content on the Web and beyond. These pages provide you with information on how to learn and use MathML, on available software, and news from the MathML community.