Universiti Sains Malaysia Library 

Open Educational Resources

What are Open Educational Resources?

According to UNESCO, OER encompasses teaching, learning, and research resources that are either in the public domain or are furnished with intellectual property licenses that permit unrestricted use, modification, and sharing. These licenses are structured to grant users enduring and cost-free authorization to participate in what are known as the "5R activities":

  • Retain – the right to make, own, and control copies of the content (e.g., download, duplicate, store, and manage)
  • Reuse – the right to use the content in a wide range of ways (e.g., in a class, in a study group, on a website, in a video)
  • Revise – the right to adapt, adjust, modify, or alter the content itself (e.g., translate the content into another language)
  • Remix – the right to combine the original or revised content with other material to create something new (e.g., incorporate the content into a mashup)
  • Redistribute – the right to share copies of the original content, your revisions, or your remixes with others (e.g., give a copy of the content to a friend)​​

Why OER Matters

Open educational resources promote access, affordability, and innovation in education. They provide opportunities for learners and educators to engage with educational materials that are not constrained by traditional financial or geographic barriers.

Who Creates OER?

Anyone can create and contribute to open educational resources. Many universities and educational institutions have created their own OER libraries, and there are also many open platforms where educators and students can contribute their own materials.

Why OER Matters

Open educational resources promote access, affordability, and innovation in education. They provide opportunities for learners and educators to engage with educational materials that are not constrained by traditional financial or geographic barriers.

Why use Open Educational Resources at USM?

  • Reduce the cost of education for students
  • Expand access to learning resources for students and educators
  • Encourage collaboration and sharing within the academic community
  • Promote innovation and creativity in teaching and learning

Collaborate and Learn Together

OER encourage collaboration and sharing within the academic community, creating new opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and innovative approaches to teaching.

Reduce Costs for Students

Using OER can significantly reduce the cost of education for students who may not have the financial resources to purchase traditional textbooks.

Expand Access to Learning

OER are freely accessible to anyone with an internet connection, opening up new opportunities for learning for learners who may live in areas without access to traditional educational resources.

Types of Open Educational Resources Available

Open Courseware

Open courseware includes full courses, materials, and content published by universities and educational institutions that can be accessed and used by anyone.

How to Access Open Educational Resources at USM

To access open educational resources at USM, simply visit our OER platform and browse through our collection of resources. You can also search by subject, type, and other criteria to find the resources that best meet your needs. Our OER platform provides a comprehensive collection of open educational resources available at USM. You can browse by subject, type, and other criteria to find the resources that best meet your needs. These are the platforms provided by USM:

Benefits of Using Open Educational Resources at USM

  • Flexibility and Adaptability
  • Increased Engagement and Collaboration
  • Cost-Effective and Efficient
  • Improved Learning and Teaching Outcomes

Increased Engagement

OER can help to increase engagement and collaboration between students and educators, creating more interactive and engaging learning experiences.

Flexible and Adaptable

One of the biggest benefits of OER is their flexibility and adaptability. OER can be customized and adapted to meet the specific needs of individual learners and educators, making it easier to create more effective and relevant learning experiences.

Cost-Effective and Efficient

Using OER can significantly reduce the cost of education for both students and educators, lowering barriers to access and promoting more efficient and cost-effective approaches to learning and teaching.

Disclaimer

USM Library will not be responsible for any loss or damage caused by the use of any information obtained from this website.

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