Open educational resources, or OER, are free learning materials that anyone can use, share and sometimes adapt for their own needs. They may include textbooks, videos, assignments and other tools created by educators to make learning more affordable and accessible. Because OER are openly licensed, students can access them online at no cost, helping reduce the expense of course materials while supporting flexible, collaborative learning.
This page offers tools and information to help you learn more about OER—what they are, how to use them and how they can benefit your courses.
Resource Guides
- Check out the Waters Library Open Educational Resources Research Guide by Sarah Northam, director of Research and Instruction Services.
- Access UNESCO OER resources, which include ideas for implementing OER in distance education and more.
Course Marking
Beginning in Fall 2025, you'll notice some updates in the Schedule of Classes related to Course Marking. Course Marking is the process of assigning searchable attributes (also called tags, flags or designations) to courses. These searchable attributes help students quickly identify key information about courses, including material costs, requirements and general education fulfillment. They're designed to support informed academic planning and are visible directly in the course schedule.
Why Course Marking Matters
The nationwide push for transparent course markings began in the mid-2000s following rising concerns about textbook affordability. A 2004 CALPIRG report revealed that textbook prices were rising four times faster than inflation, leading to the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA). HEOA requires institutions that receive federal financial aid to disclose textbook and material information, including retail price, in course listings.
Texas took this a step further. Senate Bill 810 (2017) and House Bill 1027 (2021) now mandate that public institutions disclose:
- Retail price
- Author, publisher and copyright date
- ISBN
- Whether the course uses Open Educational Resources (OER)
- Inclusive access fees
- Terms of student data use
- Opt-out procedures
These laws are now part of the Texas Education Code (TEC 51.452 & 51.4521).
ETAMU's Course Marking Categories
To comply with state law and support student awareness, ETAMU highlights Affordable Materials Courses under four main categories in the Schedule of Classes:
- Open Educational Resources (OER)
Some courses use openly licensed educational materials with no-cost textbooks or course materials. OER permits users to revise, remix, reuse, retain and redistribute materials. Look for a Creative Commons license as an indicator of OER. - No Materials Cost
Some courses offer no-cost textbooks or materials because they use library-owned or other freely available resources. Unlike OER, these materials typically fall under traditional copyright laws and do not carry open licensing rights. - Low-Cost
Some courses require materials that cost less than $40 in total. - Inclusive Access
Some classes include a primary textbook/materials that are available on the first day of class for a flat fee added to your tuition. Students may opt out, but they'll need to obtain materials on their own. Some courses may require the purchase of additional materials not covered by inclusive access.
These markings provide greater transparency about the cost of course materials and help you plan more effectively during registration.
Videos
Cheryl Casey, Open Education Librarian at the University of Arizona, joins Waters Library staff to discuss how OER can help boost student success.
OER Reports
The following statewide reports provide an overview of how colleges and universities across Texas are adopting, supporting and expanding the use of OER to improve access and reduce costs for students.