1.2 Open Educational Resources

Now that you've explored the goals and principles of open education, let's focus on the resources. While open education is not limited to OER, these are the focus of our certificate program. As librarians, "resources" (or the learning tools and information artifacts themselves) are the area in which we can best apply our expertise. We can argue that they're also the piece of the open education movement that has been receiving the most attention both nationally and worldwide. Without OER, one could say that there's no true open education!

Defining OER

After watching the video "What is OER?"1 above, take a look at the definitions2 below, provided by some of the key players and organizations involved in the open education movement. How do they differ? What do they agree on?

UNESCO Links to an external site.

"Open Educational Resources are teaching, learning and research materials in any medium — digital or otherwise — that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open license that permits no-cost access, use, adaptation and redistribution by others with no or limited restrictions." 

OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) (PDF) Links to an external site.

"digitised materials offered freely and openly for educators, students, and self-learners to use and reuse for teaching, learning, and research. OER includes learning content, software tools to develop, use, and distribute content, and implementation resources such as open licences." (p. 10)

The WikiEducator OER Handbook Links to an external site.

"The term 'Open Educational Resource(s)' (OER) refers to educational resources (lesson plans, quizzes, syllabi, instructional modules, simulations, etc.) that are freely available for use, reuse, adaptation, and sharing."

OER Commons Links to an external site.

"Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that you may freely use and reuse at no cost, and without needing to ask permission. Unlike copyrighted resources, OER have been authored or created by an individual or organization that chooses to retain few, if any, ownership rights."

The 5R's

For the purposes of the Certificate in OER Librarianship, we find "the 5R's" Links to an external site. a useful way to define and categorize open educational resources.

According to David Wiley, "The terms 'open content' and 'open educational resources' describe any copyrightable work (traditionally excluding software, which is described by other terms such as 'open source') that is either (1) in the public domain or (2) licensed in a manner that provides users with free and perpetual permission to engage in the 5R activities:

  1. Retain — make, own, and control a copy of the resource (e.g., download and keep your own copy)
  2. Revise — edit, adapt, and modify your copy of the resource (e.g., translate into another language)
  3. Remix — combine your original or revised copy of the resource with other existing material to create something new (e.g., make a mashup)
  4. Reuse — use your original, revised, or remixed copy of the resource publicly (e.g., on a website, in a presentation, in a class)
  5. 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)"3

Common Misperceptions

OER advocates often encounter the same arguments or misunderstandings when introducing OER to other librarians and educators. Take a look at some of the common "OER myths (PDF) Links to an external site.," paying close attention to Myth #1. As you've learned in this module, open doesn't simply mean free!

1.2 Reading "OER Mythbusting"4 Download 1.2 Reading "OER Mythbusting"4

Footnotes

  1. "What is OER?" by The Council of Chief State School Officers is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Links to an external site..
  2. Links to an external site."What is OER? Links to an external site." by CC Wiki is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Links to an external site..
  3. "Defining the 'Open' in Open Content and Open Educational Resources Links to an external site." by David Wiley is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Links to an external site..
  4. "OER Mythbusting (PDF) Links to an external site." by SPARC is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Links to an external site..

Next

Now that you've learned about open educational resources, go on to test your understanding with a self test by selecting the Next button below.