What are Open Educational Resources (OER)?

Open Educational Resources are free educational materials that reside in the public domain or have been released under a license that permits their free use and repurposing by others. OER include full courses, modules, textbooks, streaming videos, tests, software, and any other materials used to support access to knowledge. 

The Open & Affordable Education Committee is working to support OER and other affordable course materials at Iowa State. Our major contributors include representatives from the three offices below: 

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Morrill Hall

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Recent News

OER projects highlighted in Inside Iowa State piece

March 28, 2019

Though the financial impact of OER and other affordability initiatives is important, especially as tuition rates continue climbing, it's not their only advantage, said Abbey Elder, open access and scholarly communication librarian. There are significant educational benefits, too. For instance, OER course content can be edited and updated frequently and simply, personalized for teaching styles and accessed by students on the first day of class into perpetuity.

Open Access Librarian talks OER at state capitol

March 15, 2019

Abbey Elder, Open Access & Scholarly Communication librarian, and Kyle Collins, associate dean of Online and Blended Learning for Northeast Iowa Community College, presented to the Iowa House and Senate Education Committees on Feb. 18. The purpose of this presentation was to educate the legislature about the high cost of college textbooks and to explain how open educational resources (OER) can help with these costs in some cases.

The next round of Miller Open Education Mini-Grants is now open!

March 4, 2019

To kick off the start of Open Education Week, the Open & Affordable Education Committee is excited to announce the second call for proposals for the Miller Open Education Mini-Grant Program. Co-sponsored by the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost (SVPP), the University Library, and the Open & Affordable Education Committee, the purpose of these grants is to encourage instructor innovation in assigning new, less expensive materials to students by using open educational resources (OER) in the classroom. 

Celebrate Open Education Week (March 4-8) at Iowa State

February 27, 2019

Open Education Week (March 4th-8th) is an international event where educational institutions share information about open educational resources (OER), open pedagogy, and other aspects of Open Education. 

Provost provides charge to Open & Affordable Education Committee

February 8, 2019

At the January meeting of the Open & Affordable Education Committee, Provost Wickert attended in order to provide an official charge to the group and to offer commendation for our work. A full copy of the charge can be read here: OAEC charge [pdf]

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