What are OER?
Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning, and research materials that are in the public domain or have been released under an open license, meaning they are free for everyone to use, adapt, and share. Embracing OER offers significant advantages: students benefit from eliminating the financial burden of expensive textbooks, ensuring equitable access to course materials from day one. For faculty, OER provides unparalleled pedagogical flexibility, allowing you to customize, update, and integrate content that perfectly aligns with your teaching style and learning objectives.
The OER initiative is part of Waubonsee’s broader MyMaterials program, which also includes Inclusive Access. The library fully supports both pathways to providing affordable, day-one access to course materials. To learn more about the complete MyMaterials program, please visit the Waubonsee Bookstore's MyMaterials page.
Why Use OER?
Adopting Open Educational Resources (OER) is a powerful way to enhance student success and transform your teaching. OER provides students with immediate, no-cost access to essential course materials, which helps improve retention and completion rates. For faculty, OER offers unparalleled pedagogical freedom, allowing you to customize content to perfectly fit your course and teaching style.
Benefits of OER for Faculty and Students:
- Financial Relief for Students: Eliminate the high cost of textbooks, ensuring all students have access to materials from day one.
- Pedagogical Flexibility: Revise, remix, and tailor content to create a unique and highly relevant learning experience.
- Student Success: Increase student engagement and course completion rates by removing a major financial barrier to education.
What they're saying: Waubonsee Faculty on OER
I use OER texts whenever possible because they eliminate cost barriers for students and provide accessible, high-quality content from the first day of class. Students seem to appreciate not having to worry about purchasing expensive textbooks.
--Steven Skaggs, Professor of Business and Information Systems
I like the fact that this a free and accessible option for not only my students but for ANYONE who wants to learn about sociology!
--Jessie Miller, Instructor of Sociology
I no longer need to worry about student access to course materials due to their costs and there is excellent internal support for "going OER" at Waubonsee.
--Evan Thomas, Associate Professor of Biology
The best part of OER is that students have access to course materials on the first day of class, for free, and they get to keep the content forever. It is also really nice not having to deal with access codes!
--Eamon Newman, Instructor of Information Systems
Using OER has allowed me to be more intentional on the high/low impact activity I create [and] has allowed me to create content that mirrors how I teach.
--Lilia Mendoza, Professor of Foreign Language
The reason I switched to OER primarily was to reduce costs to my students without sacrificing quality...It’s easy for me, it’s easy for them, and it's loaded with all of the same material, activities, question banks, etc. that one would expect. I’m never going back to publisher provided textbooks for this course.
--Jason Chatman, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Library Services & Support for Faculty: Your OER Partner
Thinking about adopting OER but not sure where to start? Already using OER and looking for more resources? The Waubonsee Library is your dedicated partner in navigating the world of Open Educational Resources. We're here to provide comprehensive support, guidance, and resources to empower your OER journey.
Want to learn more?
We're excited to partner with you to make education more accessible and innovative at Waubonsee! Contact our OER Specialist, or visit our OER Guide to learn more!
