Creating OER


Whether you are considering creating supplemental materials for an existing open resource, customizing an open educational resource to fit your course needs, or authoring an open textbook from scratch, there are resources to guide your project. Below are links to resources that provide information on a variety of topics an author may consider when creating open resources. If you have ideas about a project or would like to learn more about creating OER click here to request a consultation.


Library Publishing Project

The Library is now providing a new service to faculty: Pressbooks. Pressbooks is an open book publishing software that supports faculty in creating globally-accessible Open Educational Resources (OER). This is part of the ongoing strategy by the Library to support Open Educational Resources and Open Pedagogical Practices. UTRGV's Library Publishing Project is focused on the creation of materials that are free, reflective of our students, and feature their direct input and experiences as part of their learning process.

Wondering how to get started with a publishing project? Visit the Library Publishing Project Guide to learn about traditional book publishing and open pedagogy projects. In this guide, you will find information about goals, services, Pressbooks information, training, and much more!

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Pressbooks Network - Open Pedagogy and Library Publishing Project is available to all UTRGV faculty.

Join a Community

The Rebus Community is a global community working together to create and share Open Educational Resources (OER). Here you’ll find people, processes, and tools to support your publishing efforts. You can use the platform to:

  • start an open textbook project
  • give and receive guidance on publishing open textbooks
  • post and respond to calls for contributors, and
  • connect with global communities that are changing the world through Open Education

Resources

This guide is for faculty authors, librarians, project managers and others who are involved in the production of open textbooks in higher education and K-12. Content includes a checklist for getting started, publishing program case studies, textbook organization and elements, writing resources and an overview of useful tools.

Making Ripples: A Guidebook to Challenge Status Quo in OER Creation is a short resource designed to expand your understanding of inequities in the educational systems through breaking down the work into smaller pieces with opportunities for you to reflect, identify strategies for action, and locate resources and community members to connect with. The purpose of this guide is to explore strategies for you as OER creators to incorporate equitable practices into your workflows.

This is 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 files and platform types are included.

The Rebus Guide to Publishing Open Textbooks (So Far) is a living repository of collective knowledge, written to equip all those who want to publish open textbooks with the resource they need.

The BCcampus Open Education Self-Publishing Guide is a reference for individuals or groups wanting to write and self-publish an open textbook. This guide provides details on the preparation, planning, writing, publication, and maintenance of an open textbook.