What are Open Educational Resources (OER)?
"Open Educational Resources (OERs) are any type of educational materials that are in the public domain or introduced with an open license. The nature of these open materials means that anyone can legally and freely copy, use, adapt and re-share them. OERs range from textbooks to curricula, syllabi, lecture notes, assignments, tests, projects, audio, video and animation" (UNESCO). The public domain status or open license attached to OER lets users download, share, and sometimes remix/edit content without seeking additional permission from the copyright holder.
UT students are saving an estimated $700,000 each year thanks to faculty across campus who have replaced costly textbooks with OER and zero-cost materials. The Libraries attempts to collect data on OER usage across campus. Scroll down to learn how you can get involved.
Open Textbooks
What are Open Educational Resources (OER)?
UT SGA Open Education Awards
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Who has received an SGA Open Education Award?
- 2021-22 Recipients
- 2020-21: Award hiatus
- 2019-20 Recipients
- 2018-19 Recipients
- 2017-18 Recipients
- 2016-17 Recipients
- Note that the Libraries awards the Open Education Trailblazer Award separately from the SGA Open Education Awards.
Grants at UT
The Open Textbook/OER Grant Program helps incentivize adoptions and adaptations of OERs and free, openly-licensed textbooks to save students money and improve the teaching and learning experiences of both instructors and students.
Workshops and Additional Information
Workshops on open educational resources, including open textbooks, are offered by the Office of Information Technology as well as the University Libraries. Check UT's workshop registration system for upcoming workshops.
General information on licensing, copyright, and open textbooks may be directed to Rachel Caldwell in the Scholars' Collaborative, part of the University Libraries.
For additional information, please contact any member of UT's Open Education Working Group listed below.
Open Education Working Group & Advisory Board
The Open Education Working Group promotes greater awareness of open textbooks among faculty and instructors. The working group has been instrumental to the success of open textbook adaptations and to UT's Open Education/OER Grant Program. Members of the working group are as follows:
- Rachel Caldwell, University Libraries (Chair)
- Teresa Berry, University Libraries
- Abigail Brumfield, Office of the Dean of Students
- Ferlin McGaskey, Teaching and Learning Innovation
- Molly Royse, University Libraries
- Anna Sandelli, University Libraries
- Elizabeth Spica, Student at UT College of Law
- Grace Therrell, University Libraries
In 2021, the Open Education Working Group welcomed the support and guidance of students and additional units across campus, each of are invested in furthering OER and other course material affordability initiatives. Members of the Open Education Advisory Board are as follows:
- RJ HInde, Office of the Provost
- Amber Williams, Student Success
- Jessica Barfield, Graduate Student Senate
- Claire Donelan, Student Government Association
- Elyssa Gould, University Libraries
- Jennifer Gramling, Online Learning and Academic Programs
- Sophie Stanley, Student Government Association
- Evan Sudduth, Student Government Association
- Elliot Tillman, Student Government Association
- Shirley Streeter, VolShop
- Christy Urquieta Cortes, University Libraries
Introduction to OER
OER at UT
What's Happening on Campus?
The UT Libraries joined the Open Education Network on behalf of the university in 2016, helping us work with other member institutions (such as NC State and Virginia Tech) to support the adoption and creation of open textbooks.
Using OER?
What if I've adopted an open textbook?
If you've adopted an open textbook, tell us using this form. The data will help us keep our dashboard current and improve campus resources that support open education. The information will be shared with the Student Government Association, too.