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Open Educational Resources

What are OER?

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or are under copyright that have been released under an open license, that permit no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, adaptation, and redistribution by others. UNESCO Recommendation on OER (2019)

Open educational resources include full courses, course materials, modules, textbooks, streaming videos, tests, images, software, and any other tools, materials, or techniques used to support access to knowledge. Open Science Training Textbook

Learn more about OER by UNESCO.

What is “Open” in Open Educational Resources?

  • Retain – make, own, and control a copy of the resource (e.g., download and keep your own copy)
  • Revise – edit, adapt, and modify your copy of the resource (e.g., translate into another language)
  • Remix – combine your original or revised copy of the resource with other existing material to create something new (e.g., make a mashup)
  • Reuse – use your original, revised, or remixed copy of the resource publicly (e.g., on a website, in a presentation, in a class)
  • Redistribute – share copies of your original, revised, or remixed copy of the resource with others (e.g., post a copy online or give one to a friend)

Learn more about the 5Rs by David Wiley – published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license

Resources on OA and OER:

References and Inspiration: