Open Educational Resources (OER) have become one of the most influential forces in modern education. As textbook prices continue to rise and digital learning becomes the norm, educators are looking for high-quality, openly licensed materials that improve access and reduce student costs. If you are new to OER, this guide will walk you through what they are, where to find them, how to evaluate quality, and how to integrate them into your course effectively.
What Are Open Educational Resources?
OER are teaching and learning materials that are freely available and openly licensed, allowing instructors and students not only to access them but also to adapt, remix, and redistribute them. They go far beyond free PDFs or online notes—they support an entire ecosystem of open, collaborative learning.
The 5R Permissions
OER are defined by the rights they give users. These are known as the “5Rs”:
- Reuse: You can use the content in its original form.
- Revise: You can modify or update the content.
- Remix: You can combine it with other open materials.
- Retain: You can keep your own copy forever.
- Redistribute: You can share the resource or your adapted version with others.
What OER Is Not
Not all free materials qualify as OER. If a resource does not allow modification, redistribution, or adaptation—even if it is free to access—it is not considered open.
Before You Start: Define Your Goals
Knowing what you want to achieve with OER will help you narrow down the best resources for your course.
Common Goals Include:
- Replacing a textbook: Finding a complete open-source textbook for your subject.
- Supplementing your course: Adding videos, exercises, simulations, or additional readings.
- Redesigning your course: Rebuilding the structure of your course using a mix of OER tools and materials.
Where to Find Quality OER
These trusted repositories are the best places to begin your OER search.
1. Open Textbook Repositories
- OpenStax — High-quality, peer-reviewed open textbooks.
- Open Textbook Library — One of the largest collections of open textbooks.
- Saylor Academy — Full courses plus open textbooks.
- BCcampus OpenEd — Popular Canadian OER collection.
2. Multimedia OER
- MERLOT — Curated multimedia and learning objects.
- PhET Simulations — Interactive simulations for STEM subjects.
- Khan Academy — Videos, quizzes, and practice modules.
3. Open Course Collections
- MIT OpenCourseWare
- Open Learning Initiative (CMU)
- LibreTexts — Particularly strong for STEM disciplines.
How to Evaluate OER Quality
Not all OER are equal. Evaluate resources using the same standards as traditional materials.
| Criteria | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Accuracy & Currency | Up-to-date information, citations, peer review. |
| Pedagogical Design | Clear structure, exercises, examples, assessments. |
| Accessibility | Alt text, captions, screen-reader compatibility, mobile usability. |
| Licensing Clarity | Clearly stated Creative Commons license and allowable uses. |
Understanding Creative Commons Licenses
Licensing determines how you can use and adapt an OER resource. Here are the most common Creative Commons licenses:
- CC BY: The most flexible license—requires only attribution.
- CC BY-SA: Adaptations must be shared under the same license.
- CC BY-NC: No commercial use permitted.
- CC BY-ND: Redistribution allowed, but no modifications.
- CC0: Public domain—no restrictions.
How to Integrate OER Into Your Course
Once you’ve found the right materials, it’s time to bring them into your teaching workflow.
- Replace a textbook: Adopt an open-source textbook covering the full curriculum.
- Create a hybrid resource: Combine OER from different sources to form a custom textbook.
- Supplement your lessons: Add OER modules, videos, or simulations to reinforce concepts.
- Integrate into LMS: Upload or link OER directly inside Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard, or Google Classroom.
Tools for Creating Your Own OER
Once you feel comfortable, you can even begin producing your own open resources.
- Pressbooks — Create full digital textbooks with multimedia support.
- H5P — Build interactive quizzes, activities, and simulations.
- LibreTexts Authoring — Ideal for scientific and technical materials.
- Hypothes.is — Enable collaborative annotation and discussion.
Common Pitfalls for OER Beginners
- Assuming “free” always means “open.”
- Misreading or ignoring licensing requirements.
- Using outdated or unreviewed materials.
- Importing an OER-based course without adapting it to your teaching style.
Where to Get Help and Support
You don’t have to navigate OER alone. Many institutions offer support through:
- Academic librarians specializing in OER adoption.
- Instructional designers who help align OER with learning outcomes.
- Professional OER communities such as OE Global and SPARC.
- University grants supporting OER development and textbook replacement.
Conclusion: Start Small and Build Your OER Journey
OER can significantly increase student access, promote educational equity, and empower instructors to innovate. You don’t need to redesign your entire course at once—start with one chapter, one video, or one simulation. Over time, you can build a rich, personalized collection of materials that supports your students and contributes to the broader OER community.