Overview of OERs

Open Educational Resources (OER) 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." [UNESCO] 

UNESCO claimed that free information is a fundamental human right, and OERs make it possible for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn more about the world around them and access the tools they need to improve their lives and livelihoods.

*public domain – copyright waived and/or expired

What format is an OER?

An OER can be any format, providing that it has been licensed correctly, but typically an OER is one of the following formats:

Digital assets – normally a single file (e.g. an image, video or audio clip), sometimes called a ‘raw media asset’

Information objects – a structured aggregation of digital assets, designed purely to present information

Learning objects – an aggregation of one or more digital assets which represents an educationally meaningful stand-alone unit

Learning activities – tasks involving interactions with information to attain a specific learning outcome

Why use OERs?

• They are readily available – save time, money, and allows focus to be elsewhere
• Tap in to collective knowledge and SME expertise
• Openness and transparency – share your content, not only use OER content
• Use OERs as a foundation to build upon – bespoke/tailored content

Criteria for Quality OERs

• Ensure you check quality, accuracy and relevance
• Is the OER impartial?
• Is the original author a trusted source?
• Will the resource be sustainable?  i.e. the content is not likely to change regularly.
• Is the resource clearly licensed?