What about peer review and quality assurance?

This is one of our most frequently asked questions. It’s part of our publishing agreement that all books published with us are peer reviewed. But here's the cool part – the review process can be flexible. You might have traditional academic peer review, student reviews, or something different again – we can discuss this before we get started. 

Do I have to adapt existing material, or can I create my own material from scratch? 

Either way works! You can build on existing open textbooks, so long as they have a Creative Commons or similar open license. Or you can adapt an existing book.  If you're adapting, our Pressbooks platform makes it easy to import open textbooks and customise them for your needs – like adding local examples or updating content.

What if I want to adopt something that isn’t a book or textbook? 

OER come in all shapes and sizes! If you want to make OER such as images, videos, infographics, or lesson plans, simply check the license (usually listed right with the material) and give credit where credit's due. A quick attribution is all it takes for most resources. The TASL method of attribution is the most common way to attribute something. TASL stands for Title, Author, Source (usually a URL or website) and License.

How can I protect my work using open licences?

Using open licences such as Creative Commons licensing ensures that you retain your copyright.  You grant permission to others to use your work, but you retain your rights to the work and can still be in charge of its distribution.

If you're concerned about inappropriate remixing or adaptation of works containing Indigenous knowledges or sensitive information, consider using a No-Derivatives (ND) license. This license can apply to the whole work or just to specific sections.

Isn't creating OER a lot of work? I'm already stretched thin.

While there is an upfront time investment, you're creating something that can be reused and refined again and again. Plus, you can start small – maybe adapt or write a few chapters to start with, then add more later or collaborate with colleagues to share the workload.

Can OER enhance my teaching or are they just to save students money? 

OER give you complete control over the content of your teaching material. You can tailor materials to match exactly how you teach - no more working around a textbook that's "almost right." You can add local examples, update content on the fly, and even involve students in creating or improving materials.

Many teachers find that working with OER helps them rethink their whole approach to teaching, making it more engaging and responsive to student needs.

For more information, read the Guidance Note on Scholarly Activity or chat to us. 

What if I want to try something innovative with my teaching materials?

That's the beauty of OER - you're free to experiment! Want to try a flipped classroom approach? Create interactive case studies? Include student-generated content? Go for it! Because you're not restricted by traditional publishing formats, you can design materials that supports whatever teaching innovations you'd like to try. Some teachers even involve students in creating content as part of their learning activities.