Open Educational Resources: Learning Without Barriers
Open educational resources (OER) are teaching, learning, and research materials that are available at little or no cost and carry permissions that allow people to use, adapt, and share them. They can make education more affordable and flexible while giving educators new ways to tailor learning materials to their students.
What Counts as OER?
OER can include textbooks, lesson plans, videos, worksheets, simulations, quizzes, course modules, and entire courses. A resource is not automatically “open” just because it is free to view or download. OER are generally in the public domain or released under an open license that explains how others may use and share them.
Many OER use Creative Commons licenses. The specific license matters: some allow adaptations and commercial use, while others require attribution, prohibit commercial use, or require adapted versions to use the same license. Users should check the license before copying, revising, or redistributing a resource.
The 5Rs of Open Educational Resources
OER are often described through five permissions, known as the 5Rs:
- Retain: Keep a copy of the resource.
- Reuse: Use it in different settings, such as a class, presentation, or study group.
- Revise: Adapt or update it to better meet learners’ needs.
- Remix: Combine it with other materials to create something new.
- Redistribute: Share the original or an adapted version with others.
The permissions available depend on the resource’s license. Reviewing the license helps educators and learners understand what is permitted and how to give proper credit.
Why OER Matter
One of the most recognized benefits of OER is affordability. Students may be able to access required materials without purchasing costly textbooks. Because open resources can be shared digitally, learners can often get them soon after a course begins.
OER can also support more responsive teaching. Instructors may adapt examples, readings, or activities for a particular course, community, or learning level. A resource can be updated to reflect new information or made more accessible—for example, by adding captions, improving document structure, or offering alternative formats.
For learners outside formal classrooms, OER provide opportunities to explore subjects independently. Publicly available lessons and courses can support lifelong learning, professional development, and personal interests.
How Educators Can Use OER
Educators can start by identifying a specific need: a textbook, a single lesson, a practice activity, or material for a whole course. OER repositories and institutional libraries can help locate resources, but the quality and licensing of each item should be checked individually.
Before adopting a resource, consider whether it is accurate, current, appropriate for the learners, accessible, and aligned with course goals. Check the author or source, review the license, and confirm that the material works in the formats students need. If changes are made, keep a record of the original source and license, and provide attribution as required.
Educators do not have to use OER exactly as they find them. They can select relevant sections, add local examples, translate content, or combine compatible resources. Sharing those improvements can help other educators, provided the licenses allow redistribution and any license conditions are followed.
Challenges to Consider
Open access does not guarantee quality. Some resources may be outdated, incomplete, or difficult to navigate. Educators need time to review materials and make sure they are suitable for their learners. Creating and maintaining high-quality OER also takes work, including research, editing, design, accessibility checks, and updates.
Licensing can be another challenge. Different licenses allow different uses, and combining materials with incompatible terms may create problems. When in doubt, consult the license details or seek guidance from a librarian, instructional designer, or campus copyright specialist.
Access to technology also matters. Online resources are less useful to learners without reliable internet access or suitable devices. Offering downloadable files, print options, and accessible formats can help address some of these barriers.
The Future of Open Learning
OER are part of a broader movement toward more affordable, adaptable, and collaborative education. Their greatest value comes not only from lowering material costs, but also from giving educators and learners the ability to shape and share knowledge. With thoughtful selection, clear licensing, and ongoing care, open educational resources can help build learning experiences that are more inclusive and responsive to the people they serve.
8 Essential Tips for Effectively Using Open Educational Resources
- Check the license before reusing materials.
- Use open resources to reduce course costs.
- Adapt content to fit your learners’ needs.
- Credit the original creators.
- Share your revisions when the license allows.
- Check materials for accuracy and accessibility.
- Choose formats that are easy to edit.
- Look for openly licensed images and media.
Check the license before reusing materials.
Before reusing an open educational resource, check its license to understand what you’re allowed to do. Some licenses let you adapt, remix, and share the material, while others may require attribution, prohibit commercial use, or require you to share adaptations under the same terms. Following the license helps you respect the creator’s work and reuse the resource responsibly.
Use open resources to reduce course costs.
Use open educational resources (OER) to help reduce course costs for students. Free or low-cost textbooks, readings, videos, and other learning materials can replace expensive course materials while still supporting learning goals. Before assigning an OER, check that it is accurate, up to date, accessible, and covered by a license that permits the intended use. When possible, share materials in formats students can easily access online or download.
Adapt content to fit your learners’ needs.
Adapt open educational resources to reflect your learners’ goals, backgrounds, and levels of experience. You might simplify complex explanations, add familiar examples, translate key information, or adjust activities for different learning styles and abilities. Before sharing your adapted version, check the resource’s license to confirm what changes are allowed and provide attribution as required. Tailoring materials thoughtfully can make learning more relevant, accessible, and engaging.
Credit the original creators.
When using open educational resources, credit the original creators by naming the author or organization and linking to the source whenever possible. Include the resource’s title and license, and note any changes you made. Proper attribution respects the creators’ work, helps others find the original, and supports responsible sharing.
Share your revisions when the license allows.
When an open educational resource’s license allows it, share your revisions so others can benefit from your work. You might update outdated information, add local examples, improve accessibility, or tailor a lesson to a specific audience. Include proper attribution, note what you changed, and follow any license requirements for sharing adaptations.
Check materials for accuracy and accessibility.
Before using an open educational resource, review it for accuracy and accessibility. Confirm that facts are current, sources are credible, and examples are appropriate for your learners. Check that videos include captions, images have descriptive alt text, and documents are easy to navigate with assistive technologies. These steps help ensure the material is both trustworthy and usable by everyone.
Choose formats that are easy to edit.
Choose formats that are easy to edit so you can adapt an open educational resource to your learners’ needs. Editable documents and presentations make it simpler to update information, add examples, improve accessibility, or translate content. Before making changes, check the resource’s license to confirm what adaptations are allowed, and include any required attribution when you share your revised version.
Look for openly licensed images and media.
When adding visuals, audio, or video to an open educational resource, look for openly licensed media that can be reused legally. Check the license terms carefully, since some require attribution, limit commercial use, or require adaptations to be shared under the same license. Credit the creator as requested and keep a record of the source and license. This helps you build engaging learning materials while respecting creators’ rights and making your resource easier for others to share.