{"id":27,"date":"2024-04-08T03:34:28","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T03:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/pushstartoerandioerforeducators\/chapter\/introduction-to-open-educational-resources-foundations-of-open-educational-resources\/"},"modified":"2025-06-12T03:12:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T03:12:45","slug":"introduction-to-open-educational-resources-foundations-of-open-educational-resources","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/pushstartoerandioerforeducators\/chapter\/introduction-to-open-educational-resources-foundations-of-open-educational-resources\/","title":{"raw":"Introduction to Open Educational Resources","rendered":"Introduction to Open Educational Resources"},"content":{"raw":"

In an increasingly interconnected world, access to high-quality educational resources has become both a necessity and a challenge. Open Educational Resources (OER) offer a promising solution by providing freely accessible, openly licensed materials that can be used, adapted, and shared by educators and learners alike. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of OER, starting with a foundational introduction to what they are and their historical background. We will explore the defining characteristics of OER, distinguishing them from resources that do not meet the criteria. Additionally, the chapter will delve into the benefits of using OER, highlighting how they can enhance educational outcomes and foster innovation in teaching and learning. Finally, we will discuss the challenges associated with OER adoption and use, providing a balanced perspective on the opportunities and obstacles in the OER landscape.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/EImihZVE0sA\r\n

\u201cOpen Educational Resources concept: What is an OER?<\/a>\u201d by UNESCO is available under a Creative Commons CC BY SA license.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/G7KFAE5SXgk\r\n

\u201cOpen Educational Resources (OER) and innovation: Why OER?<\/a>\u201d by UNESCO is available under a Creative Commons CC BY SA license.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Background<\/h1>\r\n

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<\/a> 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:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Much of our attention focused on OER\u2019s 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 \u2013 in MIT\u2019s language, to create \u2018a shared intellectual Common.\u2019[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

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<\/a> in 2002. The final declaration from the conference emphasized that participants \u201cexpressed their\u2026 wish to develop together a universal educational resource available for the whole of humanity, to be referred to henceforth as Open Educational Resources.\u201d<\/span>[2]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\r\n \r\n

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