Open Educational Resources

What are Open Educational Resources?

Open educational resources (OER) are teaching, learning and research resources that are available in the public domain or that have been licensed in such a way that anyone is free to use or re-purpose them. OER are any tools or materials used to support learning, including:

  • full courses
  • course materials
  • modules
  • textbooks
  • lesson plans
  • streaming videos
  • tests

Why is this movement important?

Given the high cost of textbooks, OER enables faculty to decrease the financial burden that students face, increasing student success and student retention. It also allows faculty flexibility and creative opportunities when planning course content.