Open Educational Resources
Yassin Nacer
Assistant Librarian, Open Education Librarian
Research Publishing & Impact
What are OER?
Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning, and research resources that are free of cost and access barriers, and carry legal permission for open use. OER are making a significant impact at Utah State University. The USU OER team strives to increase this impact by accelerating the number of open textbooks and materials used throughout the USU community.
Interested in using OER? There are many ways to incorporate OER into your teaching practice:
Adopt
Adopt an existing textbook or other educational resource which significantly reduces costs for students.
Adapt
Adapt one or more existing OER, customized to your instructional needs.
Create
Create or author new learning materials that will be licensed openly.
Find OER
Search trusted repositories to find an OER to suit your instructional needs.
Find courses at USU that have already incorporated OER.
Benefits of OER
Cost Savings
According to a report from the Student Public Interest Research Groups, textbook costs have risen expotentially since 2006, contributing significantly to the cost of higher education. On average, students are spending around $1,200 a year on textbooks. The cost of textbooks has risen 73% since 2006, four times the rate of inflation.
In a survey of USU students, 74% said they pay for textbooks with their own money, with the average cost per semester for all textbooks that semester ranging from $200-$600. 85% reported that they have delayed purchasing a textbook for a class. Of those that delayed purchasing textbooks, 58% said their grade was negatively impacted due to the delay.
Increase in the cost textbooks since 2006, 4 times the rate of inflation
Students spend on average $1,200 a year on textbooks
85% of USU students delayed purchasing a textbook due to cost
58% reported suffering academically due to this delay
Open Licensing and Online Access
The open licensing on OER means that students are free to use the materials as they see fit (and as licensing allows), allowing them to keep, print, and share OER with friends, or even remix and share study materials of their own.
OER are open and online, meaning they will be available to students on the first day of class and can be kept after class ends. No more waiting for books or access, as every student can have immediate and unlimited access to their course materials they need.
Academic Freedom and Pedagogy
In addition to saving students money, OER also increase academic freedom for professors. With Creative Commons licenses, instructors are allowed to adapt learning materials to their specific teaching style and the learning needs of their students.
- OER can be remixed and adapted for specific use, making it an innovative, customizable option for your course.
- OER are revised with new versions and content, ensuring you're teaching the most up-to-date material.
Department
I've loved the flexibility of OER. Flexible for students to study with and for our faculty to innovate and possibly adapt.
OER Grants
USU Libraries is committed to reducing barriers to student success through the use of open educational resources. In partnership with Academic and Instructional Services, and various colleges across campus, the OER Team is excited to offer grants to support instructors interested in adopting, adapting, or creating OER. Learn more about OER grants.