What are OER & Why Should I Use Them?

Created Feb. 5, 2024 by Melinda Waffle

Open educational resources (OER) are free and openly licensed educational materials that can be used for teaching, learning, research, and other purposes. OER may be modified, adapted, or redistributed without express permissions from the copyright holder. Open educational resources include full courses, course materials, modules, textbooks, videos, assessments, software, and many other materials used to support learning.

OER help to ensure that instructional materials are up-to-date, relevant, and fit the unique needs of an educator’s diverse student population. Because they are free, OER ensure that cost is not a barrier to accessing high quality resources. Educators can save a significant amount of time finding and developing resources, as well as having the opportunity to collaborate with other educators across geographic, time and space boundaries. The use of open educational resources also help to promote shifts in instructional practice and curriculum planning, along with ensuring accessibility for student accommodations.

Additional Resources:

Videos from The Council of Chief State School Officers

Additional Readings:

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