Textbook affordability has become a major issue in higher education. As costs continue to skyrocket, many educators are seeking more affordable alternatives to the traditional, often expensive, print textbooks. One solution gaining in popularity is the Open Educational Resources (OER) model. Related to the Open Access movement, OERs are openly-licensed text, media, and other resources used for teaching and learning. OERs are beneficial in that they allow anyone to read, copy, distribute, or modify the course content at no cost to students. They also allow for wider dissemination of course materials and can reduce the cost of a college education.
This section covers the basics of OERs including collections, resources, and training. For a more comprehensive overview, please consult the complete guide to Open Education Resources.