How can I incorporate open-education resources in my classes?

Open Education Resources (OER) can make class texts and materials more accessible and more affordable, sometimes even free, for students. Since there are an overwhelming number of OER from which to choose, you may want to discuss your needs with an instructional designer or librarian who can direct you on ways to narrow down your choices. For example, you can reach out to one of the Affordable Learning Georgia Champions at UWG.  Affordable Learning Georgia Champions are affordable learning specialists and advocates at each USG institution. Champions work together to inform the institution about affordable resources, including open educational resources (OER), along with the fundamentals and practices behind open licensing and the potential to enhance instruction through open pedagogy. The UWG ALG Library Champion is CJ Ivory and the UWG ALG Design Champion is Brian Roberts. For OER, you can choose to develop your own course materials, in addition to or in place of a required course textbook, or you can choose to use material that is already developed. Additionally, you can use the Ingram Library LibGuide to locate OER.  Some other reliable resources for higher education OER are Creative Commons, OER Commons, OpenStax, and Merlot. 

Instructional Solutions

1. If you want to develop your own OER, including but not limited to quizzes, activities, assessments, videos, and written materials, you can then add them to the modules in your course just as you would add pre-created material. For example, if you use your own or borrowed instructional materials, you can insert those into the Course Content using the following steps for creating a new file  and Using the HTML Editor. Likewise, you can easily add items, such as a file, a video/audio attachment, a link, or a checklist for your CourseDen modules.  Additionally, you can Add External Learning Tools, including but not limited to your Concourse syllabus and Smarthinking tutoring, to the module. Likewise, you can Add Existing Activities to each module in order to incorporate quizzes, discussions, and assignments that you have already created.

2. Find advocates

3. Make spreadsheets

4. File away

5. Survey users

6. Start small

EdTech Quick Guides

Content: Create a New File

Using the HTML Editor

Upload a File

Embed Video/Audio 

Create a Link 

Create a New Checklist

Add External Learning Tools

Add Existing Activities