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Open Educational Resources Guide

A Leeward Faculty guide to 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.

Use this guide to discover representative examples of OER. Use the tabs on the left 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.

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.

OER Myths

SPARC developed the OER Mythbusting resource to debunk some common myths about OER.  The myths are:

  1. Open simply means free
  2. All OER are digital
  3. "You get what you pay for"
  4. Copyright for OER is complicated
  5. OER are not sustainable
  6. Open textbooks lack ancillaries
  7. My institution is not ready for OER

Learn why these myths are untrue in OER Mythbusting.

More about OER

For College Leaders - OER Policy Development Guidebook