Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning, and research materials that reside in the public domain or are released under an open license, permitting free access, use, adaptation, and redistribution. At Weber State University (WSU), OER grants offer a transformative opportunity to enhance educational equity, reduce student costs, and promote innovative teaching practices.

This guide equips faculty, staff, and administrators at WSU with required information about OER, regardless of their level of knowledge of the subject. Consequently, it provides a comprehensive roadmap for successfully planning and implementing an OER project. Whether you are looking to adopt existing OER materials, adapt them to meet specific course needs, maintain high-quality resources over time, or create new OER content, this guide will equip you with the necessary steps and best practices to navigate the grant process effectively.

Objectives of this Guide:

1. Understand the OER Landscape: Learn the importance of OER and how they align with WSU’s goals of affordability, accessibility, and innovation.
2. Grant Preparation: Discover how to prepare for the grant application process, including identifying opportunities, forming a team, and crafting a compelling proposal.
3. Adoption and Adaptation: Explore strategies for identifying and modifying OER materials to suit your teaching and learning objectives.
4. Maintenance and Sustainability: Understand the importance of maintaining and updating OER materials to ensure their long-term viability and relevance.
5. Creation of New OER: Learn the steps involved in developing original OER content, from conceptualization to dissemination.

By utilizing OER grants, WSU faculty and staff can play a significant role in transforming the educational experience for students. This guide provides the essential steps to navigate the OER grant process all the way from adoption and maintenance to adaptation and creation, ensuring that your efforts lead to sustainable and impactful outcomes. Together, we aim to advance the mission of open education and foster a more equitable and inclusive learning environment for everyone here at WSU.