Use this guide to learn about what open education resources are as well as:
If you want to learn more about open educational resources, check out these free books and online classes.
Books
Online Classes
Open educational resources are any material used in the classroom to help students learn that have been made freely available online and licensed for others to reuse them.
The movement for OERs started in response to rising costs of traditional college textbooks. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, college textbook prices increased 187.5 percent in the past decade, more than any other cost to college students in that same time period. The College Board estimates college students are supposed to spend $1,200 a year on books and supplies based on their class requirements.
Chart created by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
However, students often can't afford their textbooks and other supplies. The 2015 National Survey of Student Engagement found that 31 percent of first-year college students and 40 percent of seniors did not buy required classroom materials due to cost, an increase from 27 percent and 34 percent, respectively, in 2012. Almost half of students (48 percent) have said the costs of books has impacted their decision on which classes to take, according to a report by the Student Public Interest Research Groups,
The goal of OERs is to make sure all students have access to materials necessary for their academic achievement.
Why Open Education Matters (video)
Nicole Allen at the OER Summit (video)
These are examples of open textbooks in a variety of disciplines that have received multiple peer reviews and average four to five stars.
