FIU Libraries: Open Education Resources (OER), E-Textbooks, &amp; Library Materials: Find Tips & Tutorials

Making the switch can seem overwhelming,

but remember the FIU Libraries is here to help you!

Tips to Get Started:

1. Schedule Time - Locating, evaluating, and potentially adapting and creating OER takes time. On this library guide you will find a number tools to help you but it will take time to review and evaluate each source.

2. Training & Education - If you are unfamiliar with OER check out the tutorials on this page.

3. Understand Copyright - Familiarize yourself with copyright. See library.fiu.edu/copyright and contact Sarah J. Hammill if you get stumped.

4. Determine Your Needs - Are you looking for a textbook? Supplemental materials? Data Sets? Graphics? What are your student learning outcomes? Do you have a list of key terms? All of these questions will make searching less overwhelming.

5. Begin Your Search - Use the resources listed in this guide.

6. Evaluate - Examine the resources that you find. Are they a good fit for your needs? Maybe you remix several sources to find the perfect fit. Consider content, presentation, accessibility, license, supplemental materials.

7. Adapt or Adopt - Once you make your selections adapt them to suit your needs or adopt them as created. Adopting is using an OER in its current form without changing the resource in any way, much like with traditional textbooks. Adapting is making changes to better suit the needs of your course and students. The changes can be small such as not using a specific chapter or larger like combining multiple resources into a whole new OER.

8. Reach out to your librarian!

Open FL
Guide for the open and affordable learning community of Florida.
Learn OER from Open Washington
Self-paced course on OER in 10 modules.
Texas Learn OER
A self-paced course with 10 modules including an assessment piece.
OER Training
An OER training guide for higher education instructors on OER.
OER Starter Kit
Book from Iowa State University introducing the use and creation of open educational resources.
Modifying an Open Textbook: What You Need to Know
A five-step guide for faculty, and those who support faculty, who want to modify an open textbook. Step-by-step instructions for importing and editing common open textbook file and platform types are included.
Open Education Resources - State Library of Florida
Find guides and resources from Florida

Evaluating OER - FAU
Seven areas to consider when evaluating a resource.

When selecting an open textbook, use the same criteria as you would for a print book.

Ask:

What are the course learning objectives?
What kind of materials do you want to find?
How will you evaluate the low cost materials you find?

Created by the CAUL - CBUA Scholarly Communications Committee

Best Practices in OER from the Center for Media & Social Impact
From the Center for Media & Social Impact.

Licensing

Open Electronic Resources are generally licensed under an open copyright licence, such as Creative Commons, and made available online to be used by teachers and students.

All Creative Commons licenses have many important features in common. Every license helps creators — we call them licensors if they use our tools — retain copyright while allowing others to copy, distribute, and make some uses of their work — at least non-commercially. Every Creative Commons license also ensures licensors get the credit for their work they deserve. Every Creative Commons license works around the world and lasts as long as applicable copyright lasts (because they are built on copyright). These common features serve as the baseline, on top of which licensors can choose to grant additional permissions when deciding how they want their work to be used.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/

Green Library

Find & Contact your Librarian!
We can help you identify low cost alternatives to expensive textbooks.

Floor		Resources
One		Center for Academic Success: University Learning/Testing Center Electronic Classroom Broadcast Video Productions Resource for Education Technology UTS - Media Equipment Services Distance Learning Electronic Classroom Instructional Photography & Graphics
Two		Information & Research Services Curriculum & Juvenile Collection LACiC - Latin American and Caribbean Center Government Documents GIS-RS Center & Teaching Lab Maps & Imagery User Statistics
Three		Periodicals & Newspapers Laptop Lounge Honors College Student Resource Center College of Medicine Library Copiers Systems
Four		College of Medicine Special Collections & Archivese Academic Space Management School of Social Work Study Area
Five		Audiovisual Collection Diaz Ayala Collection Architecture and Fine Arts (General Collection and Periodical Section N) Music (General Collection and Periodical Section M) Music Listening Room Music CAI Center Spanish Resource Center Group Study Rooms
Six		Quiet Study Space Group Study Rooms General Collection HJ-L & P-Z Oversized Books
Seven		General Collection A-HG Quiet Study Floor Group Study Rooms
Eight		Library Administration Collection Management Digital Collections Center

Floor		Resources
One		Circulation Course Reserves Intercampus/Interlibrary Loan Information and Research Services Center for Excellence in Writing Communication Arts Studio Computer Labs/Copiers
Two		Microforms Periodicals Juvenile Collection Oversize Collection Video Collection Government Documents Reference Workroom Reference Collection Copiers
Three		General Collection, A-Z Library Administration

Open Education Resources (OER), E-Textbooks, & Library Materials

When selecting an open textbook, use the same criteria as you would for a print book.

Ask:

What are the course learning objectives?

What kind of materials do you want to find?

How will you evaluate the low cost materials you find?

Licensing

Information

Libraries

Contact