Open Educational Resources: Overview

Open educational resources (OER) are teaching, learning, and research resources that are free of cost and access barriers, and which also carry legal permission for open use. They include a multitude of formats, including textbooks, full courses, modules, videos, labs, assignments, and assessments. (Source: EDUCAUSE)

OER are licensed in such a way that enables adopters to utilize the 5 Rs:

1. Retain a copy of the content
2. Reuse the content in a range of ways
3. Revise the content as needed
4. Remix original or revised content with other material
5. Redistribute the original, revisions, and remixes with others

Creative Commons licenses are often applied to OER to license these rights to adopters.

TLC: Open Education Resources and Grant Information Session
The OCC Teaching and Learning Center hosted an Information Session on Open Educational Resources and how to participate in the Faculty Grant on April 15, 2022 for OCC Faculty, Adjuncts, and Staff.
 
This session includes:

• An introduction to using free, openly licensed materials in your courses
• An explanation of the grant requirements
• Definition of OER and common misunderstandings
• Basics of Creative Commons licenses
• Instructions on how to find OER texts and other free materials from a great consultant, Tina Ulrich

Sponsored by the OCC Foundation Provenzano Empowerment Fund and the TLC.

2021 OER Next Steps is designed for Faculty to learn the process of adapting or remixing Open Educational Resources. We will:

• Review the basics of OERs
• Learn how to effectively select OERs in line with course objectives.
• Discover ancillary support materials
• Share best practices

Presenter: Tina Ulrich, OER Consultant

Sponsored by the OCC Foundation Provenzano Empowerment Fund and the Reduced Cost Materials Working Group.

Your campus librarians are ready to help, so please don't hesitate to contact us!

$500 Stipend for Adopting Open Education Resources for your Class

OCC Fulltime and Adjunct Faculty!  Earn a $500 one-time stipend for making this transition. ($450 to implement an OER plus $50 for writing a review).

See About the Grant

Sponsored by the OCC Foundation Provenzano Empowerment Fund.

OCC students saved $541,400 by using low or no-cost course materials in 2022/23. Total student savings to date is $1,608,100 .

Students:  Check the OCC Bookstore listings for your courses for the note Free "Open Educational Resources" are required for this course.  Please see your instructor means your instructor is providing your course materials at low cost or free!  Thank your instructor if they are giving you this opportunity to save money! 

September 29-30, 2022 Michigan OER Summit.  It will be offered virtually and FREE!  You are invited to join open education advocates and supporters for a day of networking, sharing and learning about the uses of open educational resources at their Michigan institutions.  

The 2022 Open Education Conference was Oct. 17-20, 2022.
Stay tuned for videos

Winter 2022  Michigan Colleges Online sponsored OER Faculty Conversations

These conversations feature faculty who are currently using an open textbook or other free or low-cost materials in their courses. Open to all faculty from community colleges and four-year institutions who want to learn more about OER from their peers or are currently using OER and want to share their experience.

Recordings from Winter 2022

1/21/22  Engineering

2/11/22  Business

3/18/22  Chemistry

Recordings from Fall 2021

10/22/21  Anthropology   

11/12/21  Anatomy & Physiology 

12/9/21  Political Science