Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that are available online for free reuse. Examples include full courses, modules, assignments, and other digital materials. Key is that OER are licensed for open use and modification. OER allow knowledge to be broadly shared and accessible to all, contributing to the global community and addressing the information needs of new learners. Popular sources of OER include The Orange Grove, OER Commons, MERLOT, and public libraries.

1. Open Educational Resources
Micah Vandegrift
Florida State University
Scholarly Communications Librarian
mvandegrift@fsu.edu
FLA2012 - Opening Up Open Access: Open
Access is Not Just an Academic Library
Issue

2. OER is(are)
• Teaching and learning materials available online, free for all to
use.
• Examples:
– full courses, course modules, syllabi, lectures, homework assignments,
quizzes, lab and classroom activities, pedagogical materials, games,
simulations, and other resources contained in digital media collections
from around the world.
• Key: licensed specifically to be used and reused.
FLA2012 - Opening Up Open Access: Open
Access is Not Just an Academic Library
Issue

3. OER matter(s)
• Knowledge is broadly • Useful for refreshing
shared and accessible curricula.
to all. • Quicker transmission of
• Contributing to the ideas in a competitive
global community. the knowledge
• Addressing information economy.
needs and desires of • Foundational resource
new learners. for libraries as an
information service.
FLA2012 - Opening Up Open Access: Open
Access is Not Just an Academic Library
Issue

4. (OE)Resources
• The Orange Grove (theorangegrove.org)
• OER Commons (oercommons.org)
• MERLOT (merlot.org)
• Open Education Week – March 5-10
(openeducationweek.org)
• Digital Public Library of America (dp.la)
• Your local public library!
FLA2012 - Opening Up Open Access: Open
Access is Not Just an Academic Library
Issue

5. Open Educational Resources
• OER extend the mission and work of
educational institutions into a variety of
classrooms, into homes, digital worlds,
vehicles, eyes, ears, minds, and imaginations.
FLA2012 - Opening Up Open Access: Open
Access is Not Just an Academic Library
Issue