OER Definitions
"Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that you may freely use and reuse at no cost, and without needing to ask permission. Unlike copyrighted resources, OER have been authored or created by an individual or organization that chooses to retain few, if any, ownership rights."
Freely Available
Resources that may be accessed online by anyone, at no cost and without special authentication.
Openly Licensed
Resources that reside in the Public Domain or have been assigned a Creative Commons license by their creators.
The 5R's of Open Educational Resources
The 5R's of openness provide a framework for thinking about the elements that are combined to create open licenses.
Retain
to make, own, and control a copy of the resource (e.g., download and keep your own copy)
Revise
to edit, adapt, and modify your copy of the resource (e.g., translate into another language)
Remix
to combine your original or revised copy of the resource with other existing material to create something new (e.g., make a mashup)
Reuse
to use your original, revised, or remixed copy of the resource publicly (e.g., on a website, in a presentation, in a class)
Redistribute
to share copies of your original, revised, or remixed copy of the resource with others (e.g., post a copy online or give one to a friend)
