OERs represent:
- Easy access to resources that foster lifelong learning
- Small chunks of knowledge that can be integrated into a larger curriculum
- High quality content developed and distributed in the spirit of the Open Access movement
A license that allows users to modify, combine and repurpose the content
The small chunks of knowledge in OERs are useful because they can fill in learning gaps, especially where concepts build on each other. For example, you may need to refresh your knowledge about quadratic equations in order to be successful in a calculus class. You need something quick that is focused on a specific topic. An OER is the place to get that.
The Khan Academy is an example of these resources. It is a not-for-profit organization with over 2,700 educational videos about math, the sciences, art history, economics, and history. The Khan Academy really shines in math, where there are hundreds of videos about algebra, calculus, geometry, statistics, and math problems for the SAT and GMAT. In addition to the videos, there are practice math problems you can work out on your own. You can check your answer to see if it is correct and also see the steps taken to solve the problem.
The creator of the videos is a MIT graduate. The videos are unique in that he explains the concepts as he understands them, in a conversational style that is direct and to the point. Each video is about 10 minutes long. The perfect length to focus in on a topic, but not so long that you’ll zone out.
If you are interested in learning about other OERs check out this link.
(Post by Rebecca Caudle, E-Learning Librarian at the Georgia College LITC)
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