Open Educational Resources are free materials used in teaching, learning, and research that are legal to use. Open licensing gives teachers permission to freely use, share, remix, and redistribute material. Creative Commons (CC) offers simple, standardized licenses that authors can apply to their work. The Consortium of Community College Open Educational Resources (CCCOER) defines OER as: "Educational materials that include permission for anyone to use, modify, and share at no cost". OER resources not only include textbooks, but lesson plans, exams, and in-class activities.
Students Save Money According to the National Course Materials Survey 2023, over half of students surveyed said the cost of course materials caused them to take fewer courses or not register for a specific course. According to this study, 7 out of 10 students (especially Community College students) worry about paying for course materials. Studies show that nearly a quarter of college students regularly don't purchase textbooks because of the cost.
Democratize Learning & Access Traditional materials are covered by copyright restrictions which don't allow their reuse, modification, or derivations. OER materials can be re-used, repurposed, redistributed, and kept indefinitely.
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