What is an OER?

OER or open educational resources are openly licensed educational materials. What makes them different from other educational materials is the fact that they carry a Creative Commons (CC) license. This means that the person who created the OER, which could be a textbook, assessments, media, course syllabi, etc., has made it possible for others to reuse, revise, remix, redistribute and retain the work without needing to ask for permission. And, even better, OERs are FREE! How does this work in practice? Here’s an example. A professor at OSU writes a textbook on cell biology specifically for the course and gives it a Creative Commons license. Their students now have access to a free textbook on cell biology, tailored to the course, and saving the students hundreds of dollars. The students can keep it as long as they want (no rental returns or use limits). A professor at another university can take that same cell biology textbook and, without worrying about copyright violations or fair use evaluations, reorder the contents to better fit their course syllabus. They can add new, updated content like a recent discovery in gene therapy, or they can remove content that does not meet their course needs. Then they can release this work under a Creative Commons license, providing their students with a free textbook (also saving them oodles of money). It a win-win. Here at Oregon State University, since 2019, our students have saved more than $20 million thanks to OSU faculty who use free textbooks or other free and low-cost learning materials in their classes.

Why is this important?

• Students have access to their course materials on day one and everyone has equal access to the course content.
• Students don’t have to decide between buying textbooks and rent or food and they don’t have to reduce the number of courses they are taking because they won’t be able to pay for the course materials.
• Students report feeling less stressed and a stronger sense of belonging when they don’t have to worry about affording their course materials.
• Faculty can customize the course materials, aligning them with course learning outcomes, and making them more relevant to local circumstances or current events.
• Faculty can support students as active creators of knowledge by having them contribute to and even create OER materials (open pedagogy).
• Faculty can increase their own teaching impact by creating OER that are used across the globe.
• Studies have shown that students using OER course material achieve the same or better learning outcomes as with commercial course materials.

In a 2022 survey of Oregon State University students, 61% of them didn’t purchase at least one textbook because of its high cost. By utilizing low ($40 or less) and no cost resources like OERs, you can have a huge impact on our students. For example, instead of deciding between food and rent or buying a textbook, students will have immediate access, which is significant in a 10-week term, to the texts for their class. This often leads to better performance in their classes because they have access to their textbook and aren’t trying to “get by” without it. Students can also take the amount of credits they wish to stay on track with their degree completion goals because the textbooks are now not a concern as far as affordability goes.

Where do I start?

Oregon State University has a growing collection of open, free to use textbooks across several disciplines. Check out the Oregon State University OER Commons and see if there’s a resource you could utilize. If you don’t find what you were looking for there, so many more resources exist, start with looking at the OER Commons main site. But wait, there’s more!

In addition to our own OER commons, there is a great list of other places to search for Open Educational Resources for your class. Oregon State University has a curated collection of trainings, tutorials, and webinars if you’d like to dive deeper into the world of OER. If you’re needing help navigating or just feel overwhelmed with all of the options, feel free to contact our OER unit for a consultation.

What is OER Week?

Open Education Week is an annual celebration that raises awareness about OERs. In past years, there have been success stories shared, tools highlighted, and how to get involved in adopting or adapting OERs for use in classes.

Keep an eye out for more details about Oregon State University’s activities during Oregon State University’s Open Ed Week for 2026 happening March 2-6, 2026. Whether you’re a faculty member curious about open textbooks or a student interested in more affordable learning materials, there will be plenty of ways to participate and learn more.