Open+Education+Resources

== = = =Open Education Resources (OER)=

Definition of OER:
There are many different definitions of Open Educational Resources. Two of the most commonly cited are listed below:

From the National Educational Technology Plan
“Open educational resources (OER) are teaching, learning, and research resources that **reside in the public domain** or have been **released under an intellectual property license** that permits **sharing, accessing, repurposing—including for commercial purposes—and collaborating with others**.” ~ Office of Educational Technology, National Educational Technology Plan, page 56

Here's another from the International organization **UNESCO** (United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) "Open Educational Resources (OER) are any type of educational materials that are in the public domain or introduced with an open license. The nature of these open materials means that anyone can legally and freely copy, use, adapt and re-share them. OER range from textbooks to curricula, syllabi, lecture notes, assignments, tests, projects, audio, video and animation." (Retrieved from UNESCO Communication and Information, 3/12/2014)

What form would I find OER?
OER take on many different forms. Pretty much anything that you think of, can be **licensed** as an Open Educational Resource. Here's one list as compiled by OER Commons: Activities & Labs Assessments Audio Lectures Case Study Full Course Homework and Assignments Images and Illustration Interactive Lecture Notes Lesson Plans Primary Source Readings Reference Resource Review Simulations Syllabi Textbooks Unit of Study Video Lectures Other Can you think of anything else you might add to this list? How many of these items do you currently use in your teaching practice?

Free?
You are wise to question this statement! There is a difference between 'free to use' and 'free as in no cost.' OER fall under the latter category. They are Free as in No Cost (though there might be some minimal costs associated with reproduction). With the near limitless scope of the Internet, we can easily share and duplicate digital resources. Teachers are dedicated makers - they create many resources to enhance their students' learning and to keep them engaged in their classes. Teachers as makers are also willing to share what they create with their peers. But how can teachers share what they create in a way that honors that creation process and effort, and allows users to use the resources in a way the original creator intended?

It's all in the licensing! Learn how OER are licensed as Creative Commons
Watch the licensing! media type="custom" key="25976166"
 * All** materials created give the author copyright protection. However, if a maker wants to SHARE their materials, they need to understand and apply a specific license that indicates how they intend their materials to be used. With these specific licenses anyone will know how the original author intended for those resources to be used. This is accomplished through a Creative Commons license. There are many "open" licenses around the world; this one happens to be the most common.

Lets look at Creative Commons Licensing:






Face-to-face activity:
 * 1) Take one of the CC license cards.
 * 2) Each card has EITHER the license logo OR the license description.
 * 3) Get up from your chairs and try to find a license "match" -- use the handout as a guide. (3 minutes)
 * 4) Once you have found a match, the next step is to see if you can find a second license. (3 minutes) This is an example of "re-mixing" two Creative Commons licensed resources. Use the second page of your handout to ensure your two licenses are compatible. (Note: There are some licenses that cannot be re-mixed together. Do not worry that you are an orphan license!)

Try the "Re-Mix Game!" This version of a license remixing game was developed by David Wiley and revised by WikiEducator for the OCL4Ed Creative Commons unplugged course created through OERu.

Where?
Thousands of OER are being made and shared around the world. They can be found through Google searches, finding OER repositories, there are many places on the web that provide lists and resources on where to find OER. Here are a few examples: Advanced Google Search Creative Commons Search OER Commons Creating, Using and Sharing Open Educational Resources (Commonweath of Learning, Ontario, Canada) See back pages for a long list of resource web sites [|Open Education Consortium] (courses) The Federal OER STEM initiative



Don't forget to search **YouTube** as well! YouTube recently added the Creative Commons licensing option for creators on their site. If you have a Google account, you have a YouTube channel too! Once you find a CC licensed video on YouTube, you can download it into your own YouTube channel and remix it and then reshare it! Note: Not all YouTube creators are familiar with this new licensing option. If you find a video that is appropriate for you use in education, message the creator and ask them to consider licensing their work as Creative Commons.

**Thoughts/Questions/Ideas/Considerations**

 * Are you using OER materials now? Do you see the value of using OER in your teaching practice? In what ways? Would you or your agency consider looking at OER textbooks to help save both institutional costs as well as costs for students? As a creator, would you consider sharing your materials through a repository site such as OER Commons? Why or why not?**