Background

The open source software community gave rise to the open education movement, which aims to make more people able to access knowledge by using free, public content. OER has always been a local effort, with a lot of different people and groups working to make it better. The OpenCourseWare Initiative at MIT, which began in 2001, was one of the first big projects. Bliss and Smith (2017) break down the background of open education, which includes the following:

Much of our attention focused on OER’s usefulness at providing knowledge in its original form to those who otherwise might not have access. The implicit goal was to equalize access to disadvantaged and advantaged peoples of the world – in MIT’s language, to create ‘a shared intellectual Common.’^[1]

Although OER is often associated with North America, its influence extends globally, as evidenced by the timeline of OER events. Notably, there was significant growth following the UNESCO Forum on the Impact of Open Courseware for Higher Education in Developing Countries in 2002. The final declaration from the conference emphasized that participants “expressed their… wish to develop together a universal educational resource available for the whole of humanity, to be referred to henceforth as Open Educational Resources.”^[2]

Following the emergence of open education in the early 2000s, the increasing interest in open courseware, particularly open textbooks, significantly advanced the movement. Nonetheless, the progression toward enhanced OER awareness among educators remains gradual. A 2018 survey conducted in the U.S. revealed that 47% of educators were unfamiliar with OER, while the remaining educators had varying levels of awareness. Although a substantial number of educators still lack familiarity with OER, the percentage has decreased by 19% since 2014, indicating a gradual increase in awareness.^[3]

What is an OER?

The most comprehensive definition of OER available today is provided by the Hewlett Foundation^[4]:

Free Minimalist Dictionary Definition Funny Quote Family Instagram Post by EUGENIA IDA EDWARD

Open Educational Resources (OER) encompass educational materials that are openly licensed, freely accessible, and easily adaptable and redistributable by users. Although OER is often associated primarily with open textbooks, it actually includes a wide range of resources, such as videos, images, lesson plans, coding and software, and even complete courses.

 “What is OER? [Youtube]” by The Council of Chief State School Officers is available under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 licence.

To be classified as an open resource, a material must meet the following criteria, commonly referred to as the 5Rs:

• Reuse – Use a resource in any context you choose.
• Remix – Combine multiple resources to create a new, integrated resource.^[5]
• Revise – Make a copy of a resource and modify it to suit the local context.^[6]
• Retain – Keep a copy of the resource and control it permanently.
• Redistribute – The right to share what you’ve created freely.^[7]

Given such a broad definition that encompasses any educational material as long as it is free to access and openly licensed, one might find it simpler to ask, “What isn’t an OER?”

What is Not an OER?

If a resource has a traditional copyright license or requires a fee to be accessed, it is not considered an OER. For example, most materials accessed through the library’s subscriptions cannot be altered, remixed, or redistributed. These materials require special permission to use and are therefore not “open.” Similarly, YouTube’s standard license includes a traditional copyright statement that does not allow videos to be retained (saved), altered, or remixed. Materials that can be accessed freely by students (via the general internet or a library subscription) but do not meet the 5Rs are referred to as accessible resources. Learn more about how you may use accessible resources in the Open Licensing chapter.

A resource is not considered an OER if it has a traditional copyright license or requires a fee for access. For instance, most materials accessed through library subscriptions cannot be modified, remixed, or redistributed, as they require special permission for use and are thus not “open.” Similarly, YouTube’s standard license includes a traditional copyright statement that prohibits videos from being saved, altered, or remixed. Materials that are freely accessible to students—whether via the general internet or a library subscription—but do not meet the 5Rs criteria are referred to as accessible resources. For more information on how to use accessible resources, please refer to the Copyright & Licensing chapter.

Table 1 below explains the difference between OER and other resources often mislabeled as OER.^[8]

The definitions of “accessible resources” and “open educational resources” are a combination of permission (license) and cost. Click each quadrant below to see what you can do with different materials.

Benefits of Using OER

Benefits for Students

Open Educational Resources offer numerous benefits for students, enhancing their learning experience in various ways. OER are freely accessible, saving students money on textbooks and other materials. They can be accessed anytime and anywhere with an internet connection, providing flexibility to support diverse learning needs and schedules. Content is continuously updated by educators and experts, ensuring access to current information. OER often include videos, interactive simulations, quizzes – catering to different learning styles while promoting a culture of lifelong learning. Educators can customize OER to fit specific teaching needs for more personalized experiences. Collaboration is encouraged through sharing resources among students and educators leading to a richer educational experience overall.

OER empower students by providing accessible and affordable learning materials that enhance their educational experience.

Benefits for Educators

While cost savings are a significant factor in favor of adopting open educational resources (OER), educators can start incorporating OER into their courses without eliminating the paid resources they find beneficial. Although creating a full OER textbook may seem daunting, gradually integrating smaller OER as supplementary materials can be done over time. After a few years, educators may realize that they have customized so many small OER to fit their course content that these resources become more effective than the paid materials they previously used. The flexibility to adapt OER to meet instructional needs is often the most appealing feature, as OER are openly licensed, allowing educators to freely edit, reorder, and remix the materials in various ways.

Benefits for the Institution

The advantages of using OER are evident for both students and educators, but research also indicates that institutions experience overall benefits. For instance, studies have shown that the use of OER can enhance student retention, progress, and completion rates by reducing student costs.^[21]. Additionally, a recent report from Achieving the Dream, titled OER at Scale: The Academic and Economic Outcomes of Achieving the Dream’s OER Degree Initiative, reveals that institutions strategically supporting and offering OER courses can achieve a financial return on investment. The report indicates that students enrolled in OER courses often take more course credits than those in non-OER courses, leading to increased tuition revenue for the institution.^[22]

Challenges of Using OER

Footnotes