"Open educational resources are teaching, learning, and research resources released under an open license that permits their free use and repurposing by others. OERs can be full courses, course materials, lesson plans, open textbooks, learning objects, videos, games, tests, software, or any other tool, material, or technique that supports access to knowledge."
-- The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC)
Goals of the Macalester Library OER Initiative
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Creative Commons Licensing and the 5Rs
This concept of openness gives faculty increased flexibility to create teaching resources customized to their classroom and instruction needs. |
The library is making startup funding available to eligible
faculty who are initiating an OER project. For more
information on this stipend program:
Recently Published Open Textbooks
English Composition: Connect, Collaborate, Communicate
(2019)
Karyl Garland, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Ann Inoshita, Jeanne K. Tsutsui, and Tasha Williams: Leeward Community College
Kate Sims, Hawai‘i Community College, Pālamanui
Publisher: University of Hawaii Manoa
This OER textbook has been designed for students to learn the foundational concepts for English 100 (first-year college composition). The content aligns to learning outcomes across all campuses in the University of Hawai'i system. It was designed, written, and edited during a three day book sprint in May, 2019
The American Yawp Vol. I: To 1877
(2019)
Joseph L. Locke, University of Houston-Victoria, editor
Ben Wright, University of Texas at Dallas, editor
Publisher: Stanford University Press
In an increasingly digital world in which pedagogical trends are de-emphasizing rote learning and professors are increasingly turning toward active-learning exercises, scholars are fleeing traditional textbooks. Yet for those that still yearn for the safe tether of a synthetic text, as either narrative backbone or occasional reference material, The American Yawp offers a free and online, collaboratively built, open American history textbook designed for college-level history courses. Unchecked by profit motives or business models, and free from for-profit educational organizations, The American Yawp is by scholars, for scholars. All contributors—experienced college-level instructors—volunteer their expertise to help democratize the American past for twenty-first century classrooms.
You can view the book's Review Statement for more information about reviewers and the review process. An Accessibility Assessment for this is book has also been prepared to see how this book meets accessibility standards.
Libro Libre: Beginning Spanish
(2019)
Erin Huebener, Jessica Steinberg, Spokane Communithy College
One of the most important things we can do to hold ourselves accountable for our learning is to engage in goal setting and metacognition—a fancy term for thinking about the way we think and learn. The goals we set should be specific and achievable. Something like “Speak Spanish” is too broad, we need to focus on the steps we need to take to get there and the signs that we will see as proof of our progress.