Ten Tips

Here are our short and sweet tips for implementing OERs ♥

1. Don’t get overwhelmed by OER repositories
   • Finding and choosing an OER is, I will admit, an intimidating process. There are many different repositories with thousands of OERs each. There can be multiple different OERs for one topic, with that dilemma happening on multiple different repositories. How to choose! Luckily, there are many different rubrics for evaluating OERs.
2. Talk to your students!
   • This is important regardless of Open Education. As a student, I love when my professors want to hear my opinions. It establishes two-way trust and respect, signaling that my opinions actually have significance. Students are more willing to work hard and learn when they feel like they have a say. All it takes is asking if students know what OERs are and if they would be interested in using them. The same goes for Open Pedagogy. Open Education is a good avenue for strengthening the relationship between teacher and student while progressing a commons of shared knowledge. A win-win!
3. Get feedback
   • Once you have started using OERs ask for feedback from your students. Understanding their experience with the new course structure will help you tweak your course to be the best it can be.
4. Use H5Ps
   • When perfecting the OERs for your course, utilize H5Ps to encourage students interactive engagement with your book. You can use H5Ps to check student understanding, and to highlight the importance of certain information by turning it into a learning checkpoint.
5. Get connected
   • Use our resources, such as our website and informational newsletters to learn about how to utilize pressbooks best for your courses.
6. Explore existing OERs and learn about how other people use them in their courses
   • • Pressbooks has a massive selection of textbooks that are free and easy find. Seeing how other OERs are formatted and utilized may help you when choosing your OER.
7. Reach out
   • At the library, there are people who can help you find OERs and answer any questions you may have. We are here to help!
8. Start Small
   • Begin your OER journey by integrating them into just one course or a specific module. This way, you can ease into the process without feeling overwhelmed, and gradually expand as you see the positive impact on your students.
9. Customize and Remix
   • Embrace the flexibility of OERs by customizing or remixing materials to better fit your course. Feel free to adapt content, add your own insights, or blend different resources together to create a tailored learning experience that resonates with your students.
10. Collaborate with Colleagues
    • Don’t do it alone! Connect with fellow professors who are also using OERs. Sharing experiences, challenges, and successes can provide valuable insights and foster a supportive network as you navigate the world of open education.