LibGuides: Open Educational Resources Guide: What is OER?

What is OER?

Open Educational Resources (OER) are no-cost or low-cost online learning materials which can be reused, revised, remixed, redistributed, and retained. These are the 5 Rs of OER. OERs can be all types of materials - not just textbooks - including curricula, syllabi, learning modules, course assignments, exams, as well as audio and visual objects.

Learn more about Leeward's OER initiative at the Leeward OER website.

More info about OER at the University of Hawai'i Community Colleges System is found in the 2019-20 OER Initiative Annual Report.

Watch this short video: Why Open Education Matters.

Faculty

Use this guide to discover representative examples of OER. Use the tabs above to navigate through this guide. If you don't find a resource that meets your needs, don't give up. Contact a librarian to discuss your specific requirements and we'll help you find more that's out there.

Still unsure? See OER myths debunked in OER Mythbusting.

Students

While this guide is designed to support faculty needs, the information and resources described within are there to benefit you by making a college education more affordable. Contact your Leeward Student Government if you are interested in getting involved in advocating for no-cost and affordable textbooks in the classroom.

Have you heard of TXT0 (Textbook Cost = $0)? See below for more information. The Textbook Cost: $0 Class List resource allows you to search for classes that do not require the purchase of course learning materials.

For Faculty - How Do I Start?

Ask yourself these questions as you begin to explore Open Educational Resources (OER)

Do you want to improve student success?
Do you want to reduce/eliminate course material costs for students?
Do you have the required computer and Internet skills?
- Here are a few basic resources on Digital Media Literacy, Computer Basics, and Internet Basics.

If you answered yes to the above questions, you are ready to begin.

Start by looking through this guide for materials in your subject area.
Ask a Librarian for help finding materials.
Consider scheduling an initial meeting so we can help you to get started. Email Junie Hayashi, junie@hawaii.edu or Wayde Oshiro, waydeo@hawaii.edu.

To learn more about Open Education, see these OER resources:

How to Use Open Educational Resources workshop
Learn about OER in this self-paced ten module course by Open Washington.
Battle for Open: How openness won and why it doesn't feel like victory
This book examines four key areas that have been central to the developments within open education: open access, MOOCs, open education resources and open scholarship.
Open: The Philosophy and Practices that are Revolutionizing Education and Science
This book shares the stories, motives, insights, and practical tips from global leaders in the open movement.

Why I teach with OER - Jayne Bopp, Sociology Instructor, Leeward CC

For Faculty - Steps to OER

For Faculty - OER Professional Development

Consider training and learning opportunities through UHCC OER Professional Development initiatives.

Self-paced, online courses on OER are available from a number of institutions and organizations. These are open courses available to anyone.

Open Textbook Network Publishing Curriculum
Content includes an orientation to publishing, how to structure a textbook, institutional resources, and reflective questions for guiding your program development.
Open Washington
Open Washington developed a ten module course covering OER basics. Leeward used this site as a model when developing our PRLS OER training.
UH OER Training (University of Hawaiʻi Outreach College)
A three-part training guide for bringing higher education instructors up to speed with OER. This Pressbooks text was developed to serve as a standalone guide for independent creators and to support OER training through face-to-face, online, and hybrid delivery modes.

For Students - TXT0

A class that has a TXT0 (Textbook Cost = $0) marking means that students will not be required to pay for any course “learning” materials. TXT0 FAQ

Course learning materials include textbooks, readings, workbooks, lab manuals, access codes, or other content. Equipment, tools, or supplies (e.g., art supplies, culinary knives set, etc.) needed to apply the learning occurring in the class are NOT considered course learning materials. TXT0 classes may rely solely on the use of OERs or utilize a combination of OERs, freely available web resources, library resources, and/or faculty-authored materials.

Meet Nicole Keim-Fortuno, Leeward CC Counselor and Associate Professor, in the video below to learn more about how to find classes that are marked TXT0

Textbook Cost $0 at Leeward Community College by Junie Hayashi is CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

For Students - What Can You Do?

Look for classes branded "Textbook Cost: $0." These classes do not require students to purchase textbooks or other course-related materials. Textbook Cost: $0 Class List
Ask your instructor if he or she has ever considered replacing commercial textbooks with OER or other no-cost resources. Keep in mind that not all subjects have a readily adoptable OER textbook available and transitioning to OER may take more time and effort for some instructors than for others.
Contact your Leeward Student Government representatives and let them know you support the campus OER initiatives.

Speak Up for Open Education: A Guide for Student Activists by Abbey Elder is CC BY 4.0

For College Leaders - OER Policy Development Guidebook

Free to Learn: An Open Educational Resources Policy Development Guidebook for Community College Governance Officials
Open Educational Resources (OER) offer higher education governance leaders a cost-efficient method of improving the quality of teaching and learning while at the same time reducing costs imposed on students related to the purchase of expensive commercial textbooks and learning materials. Higher education governance officials, particularly boards of trustees and senior academic governance leaders, have a tremendous opportunity to harness the advantages of OER for their institutions.

More about OER

OER @ Leeward
Learn about the open educational resources initiative and timeline at Leeward CC.
OER @ UHCC
Read more about how OER is making a difference and find resources across our community campus system.
OER @ UH
Guide to resources to assist faculty interested in integrating open educational resources into courses.
Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources
The primary goal of the CCCOER is to create awareness of OER and help colleges to identify, create and/or repurpose existing OER to improve teaching and learning and make education more accessible for all learners. CCCOER is an affiliate of the Open Education Consortium. The UHCC System is a member of CCCOER.
Open Education Global
Open Education Global is a worldwide community of hundreds of higher education institutions and associated organizations committed to advancing open education and its impact on global education.
Open Washington
Open Educational Resources Network established by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Discover open textbooks, courses, videos, and more under the Find OER tab.