Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning and teaching materials that you can freely copy, use, adapt, and share.

OER are published under open licenses (e.g., Creative Commons) that specify how materials can be used, reused, adapted, shared, and modified according to specific needs, or they are in the public domain with zero copyright restrictions.

OER can be textbooks, courses, images, videos, audio, software, assignments, lesson plans and projects.

Adaptation, development or peer review of OER may contribute to scholarly activity in learning and teaching.

Open content is licensed in a way that grants users the permission to:

• Retain – the right to make, own and control copies of the content
• Reuse – the right to use the content in a wide range of ways
• Revise – the right to adapt, adjust, modify or alter the content itself
• Remix – the right to combine the original or revised content with other open content to create something new
• Redistribute – the right to share copies of the original content, your revisions or your remixing with others.

Image hotspot: Click on the question mark for a description of each permission granted with open licences.

Adapted from The 5Rs of Openness by David Wiley, licensed under CC BY 4.0 

There are many reasons for using OER in teaching and learning:

Students:

• Free access to educational materials
• Access anywhere, anytime
• Support independent learners
• Customised, relevant and current: continuously edited
• Materials in multiple formats
• Potential increase in graduation and retention rates

Academics:

• Versatility: tailor to meet student needs
• Collaboration
• Add value to existing coursework
• Open collegial culture through sharing open resources
• Share innovations freely
• Gain ideas and inspiration

Ready to take the next step and include an OER in your subject? Or even considering adapting an existing OER or publishing a new one? Contact your Faculty Librarian to discuss how we can support you!