The main requirement is that the material has been released under the terms of an open license, e.g. Creative Commons, which allows it to be freely used for educational purposes. Using your OA-publication in a course you teach is one example, but OER can be any type of educational material: their scale varies from something as small as a class handout or image to something as large as a textbook or online course. However, to be considered a true OER the license should give you, the user, the right to retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute the material for educational purposes. These are known as the 5Rs.

Retain-revise-remix-reuse-redistribute

 

The 5Rs of Open Educational Resources
Retain

The right to make, own, and control a copy of the resource, e.g. download and keep your own copy
Revise

The right to edit, adapt, and modify your copy of the resource, e.g. translate into another language
Remix

The right to combine your original or revised copy of the resource with other existing material to create something new, e.g. make a mashup
Reuse

The right to use your original, revised, or remixed copy of the resource publicly, e.g. on a website, in a presentation, in a class
Redistribute

The right to share copies of your original, revised, or remixed copy of the resources with others, e.g. post a copy online or give one to a friend
Benefits for students and staff

Educational resources with open licences can provide valuable and interesting additional or primary teaching materials. Sometimes students need additional material or material in another format. Sometimes you as a lecturer need to create new materials to explain a concept in your lectures. Making use of what others already create, can help to get inspired or build a collection (sometimes with adaptations) can be an efficient and  low- or no-cost scenario. Within a variety of situations OER can provide content where there was none previously available or replace expensive proprietary material (for example textbooks, where cost savings can be an important motivating factor in OER adoption).

One of the main teaching benefits is that, since open materials are fully revisable and remixable (depending on the type of CC-license attached to the material), they can be customised to fit the way you want to teach your course.

Benefits for faculty
  • Cost reduction
  • Provide more relevant and engaging materials for your students
  • Assure academic freedom to modify or add content to your specifications
  • Extend your academic profile
Benefits for students
  • Low cost or free
  • Easy findable and accessible
  • More customised and relevant materials to enrich your learning experience

 

Self-paced modules

To get more insight in the topic, we created two self-paced modules you can dive into.

Resources about OER

Curious about student efficacy and user perceptions of Open Educational Resources? Or looking for best practices in designing courses with OER and a framework of open and culturally responsive educational (CRE) practices grounded in both theory and the perspectives and experiences of practitioners in community colleges? Browse these publications:

You can also browse last years’ special issue on Open Educational Resources (OER), published in the context of the international Open Education Week, organised on a yearly basis by the Open Education Global to raise awareness and highlight open education efforts worldwide.