What are Open Educational Resources (OERs)?
They can be anything used to meet the objectives of a lesson, as long as they meet the the criteria of the follow 5 Rs:
- Reuse: content can be reused in its unaltered state
- Revise: content can be adapted, adjusted, modified, or altered
- 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 state
- Retain: Users have the right to make, archive, and “own” copies of the content
Some examples of OERs:
- Course materials
- Streaming videos
- Journal articles
- Online tutorials
- Lesson plans
Materials are either in the public domain or carry one of the Creative Commons Licenses. Learn more about Creative Commons licensing and its definitions on their website.
Since you may want to combine chapters or resources from various sources, finding OERs may take time and persistence, just like research. If you would like assistance with this, please contact Adam Mulcaster, the librarian for the Office of Open Learning.
Where can I find OERs?
Check out our page and links for Finding Open Content