“teaching, learning, and research resources that are free of cost and access barriers, and which also carry legal permission for open use.”
OER materials are not simply free textbooks—they encompass materials beyond the traditional textbook and must carry legal permissions for use and adaptation to truly be considered open. These materials are becoming increasingly available and have gained popularity among instructors in recent years as the cost of textbooks has made education inaccessible for many and has impacted the grades of many more.