Open Educational Resources (OERs)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an OER?

Open Educational Resources (OERs) are any type of educational materials that are either in the public domain, or published under open licenses (e.g. Creative Commons) that specify how materials can be used, reused, adapted, shared and modified according to specific needs. They can include textbooks, lecture notes, syllabi, assignments and tests. Essentially, any educational resources that is created or licensed for open use.

What's the difference between an OER and something that's just free?

The point of an OER is to prioritise access. While a considerable amount of OERs are free of cost, this is not a requirement or a determining factor for a resource to be considered an OER. A helpful way of categorizing an OER is through the use of the 5 R's

The 5 Rs of OER describe the key rights that make Open Educational Resources truly open. They were developed by David Wiley, a pioneer in open education:

1. Retain – The right to make, own, and control copies of the content (e.g., download and store it).

2. Reuse – The right to use the content in a wide range of ways (e.g., in a class, on a website, in a video).

3. Revise – The right to adapt, adjust, or modify the content itself (e.g., translate it into another language, update examples).

4. Remix – The right to combine the original or revised content with other material to create something new (e.g., mashup, anthology, multimedia presentation).

5. Redistribute – The right to share copies of the original, revised, or remixed content with others (e.g., post online, give to students or colleagues).

These rights are what distinguish OERs from simply free materials

What are my options?

 While the purpose of OERs is to create an open environment for learning and prioritize student access, they aren't the only category of resource that can be beneficial. Many factors go into selecting the best resources for a course, but it helps to be aware of the world of your options when prioritizing affordability and quality of educational materials for students.