OER vs. Library Materials

OER refer to educational materials that include permission for anyone to use, modify and share. In its simplest form, the term open educational resources describes any educational resource (including curriculum maps, course materials, textbooks, streaming videos, multimedia applications, podcasts, and any other materials that have been designed for use in teaching and learning) that is openly available for use by educators and students, without an accompanying need to pay royalties or license fees.

Materials that are under full copyright, or which are not accompanied by a specific license allowing anyone to copy, adapt and share them, are not open educational resources. An example of this would be resources only available through institutional library subscriptions such as ebooks, online articles, and streaming media. Linking to library materials in your LMS course site is not the same thing as using OER content. However, you can use these materials within fair use and institutional licensing provisions.

What are you looking for?

A good first step in searching for OER is to identify the type and format of the resources needed. For example, a video lecture about Microeconomics? A Psychology textbook? Having a clear idea simplifies the search. Use an OER Search Strategy Template or ask yourself some of the following questions.

• What type of OER are you looking for? A textbook? A video? A set of lesson plans? 

• Identify Course Objectives, Topics, & Outcomes the OER will need to cover. 

• List what you like (or love) about your current course materials.

• List what you don’t like about your current course material.

• List what you would be willing to realign or let go of to use an OER textbook.

• Think about the effectiveness of your current textbooks and course materials.

• Rank your top 5 elements (Are they current? Accurate? Cover course outcomes? Professionalism?)