Introduction
What are Open Educational Resources (OER)?
UNESCO defines Open Educational Resources (OER) as, “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.” The term “open” in OER generally refers to resources with free permission to engage in the 5R activities: retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute.
This guide is indexed by discipline and links to open resources (Creative Commons, Open Access (OA), governmental, open source, linking allowances within the Terms of Use (TOU), etc.). Most resources will have the license indicated at the end of the resource description.
The 5 Rs of Open
- Retain: make, own, and control a copy of the resource (e.g., download and keep your own copy)
- Reuse: use your original, revised, or remixed copy of the resource publicly (e.g., on a website, in a presentation, in a class)
- 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)
- 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).
“Open” definition by David Wiley
5Rs graphic from Icons8 CC BY
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture - Wikipedia
The public domain consists of all the creative work to which no exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly waived, or may be inapplicable. Because no one holds the exclusive rights, anyone can legally use or reference those works without permission. -Wikipedia
make, own, and control a copy of the resource (e.g., download and keep your own copy)
use your original, revised, or remixed copy of the resource publicly (e.g., on a website, in a presentation, in a class)
edit, adapt, and modify your copy of the resource (e.g., translate into another language)
combine your original or revised copy of the resource with other existing material to create something new (e.g., make a mashup)
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).
Terms of use are the rules, specifications, and requirements for the use of a product or service. They serve as a contract between the product or service provider and user. - Termly
