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Open Educational Resources

Learn more about OER and how to find, create, modify, and use it.

Contact Us

Library Services

Ask a Librarian: Library@csmd.edu 

La Plata: 301-934-7676

Amy Spitz
Instruction & OER Librarian (Faculty)
aspitz@csmd.edu

Leonardtown: 240-725-5360

Mary Johnson
Interim Library Director
mbjohnson@csmd.edu

Prince Frederick: 443-550-6060

What are Open Educational Resources (OER)?

Open Educational Resources are educational materials (including lesson plans, textbooks, etc.) that are freely and openly available, often with open licenses that allow anyone to use, customize, and share the content. 

OER materials include: 

  • Learning Content

    • Full Courses

    • Course Material (syllabi, activities, assignments, quizzes or tests, homework, etc.)

    • Content Modules

    • Learning Objects (infographics, videos, charts, graphs, etc.)

    • Collections

    • Journals 

  • Tools

    • Software to develop content

    • Learning Management Systems

    • Software for organizing and searching content 

  • Implementation Resources

    • Creative Commons Licenses

    • Other intellectual property and copyright resources

Why use OER?

  • Encourages collaborative, engaging, and participatory teaching and learning opportunities 

  • Low cost, especially compared to traditional textbooks 

  • Flexibility in content and format 

Learn More

Online Communities for Open Education