Create or modify OERs
Before creating an OER, or modifying an existing one, it is important to understand the fundamentals of open publishing. UM Libraries supports the platform Pressbooks which assists in producing open textbooks and other open texts.
Creation plan checklist
Design considerations
Even if you have not found an existing OER that covers the specific content of interest, you can look to existing OER for ideas about organization and sequencing. You can also incorporate smaller open works like CC-licensed images to support your text.
OER adaption assessment
Tips for authoring a new or edited/remixed work
When writing your resource, remember: make the work accessible and inclusive
Audience
Edited/Remixed work: When editing an existing OER, consider how your audience and learning objectives differ from those of the original work. Your goal should be to bring that work into alignment with your specific context.
Authoring tools
Edited/Remixed work: Depending on the format of the original work, you may be able to do your editing in the document itself - for example, a Word or OpenOffice document can easily be edited using those programs or a web-based alternative like Google Docs. Pressbooks also has features which specialize in adapting existing OER. For example, the import tool allows you to import content from other sources for adapting.
License
Edited/Remixed work: Be aware that the license of the original work impacts how you can adapt and share your adapted version. For example, if the original work used a Share Alike CC license, you must release your work under a compatible license to comply with those terms. Keep in mind that almost all openly licensed work will require that you appropriately credit the original author.
You may not have the time or expertise necessary to develop a more complex OER on your own. Seek collaborators, through community platforms like Rebus or use open pedagogy to get students involved in the process of creating OERs.
Sharing/disseminating your OER
Because OERs are openly licensed, they can be shared widely, including:
- via UM Learn
- on the Campus Manitoba Pressbooks network
- on a faculty webpage
- via Google Drive
- in an OER repository such as OER Commons, Rebus Community, Teaching Commons or MERLOT
Getting started with Pressbooks
Adapted from Pressbooks (CC BY)
As part of the University of Manitoba, you have access to the Pressbooks Authoring & Editing Platform, through Campus Manitoba’s Pressbooks network.
Using the Pressbooks Authoring & Editing Platform, you can
- adapt existing OER for your classrooms;
- create new material from scratch;
- enrich content with accessible math notation, videos, audio, web annotation, and H5P interactive elements like quizzes and activities.
To start creating, visit the Campus Manitoba Pressbooks network, choose Sign In, Institutional Login, and then University of Manitoba. From here you can use your U of M login to access Pressbooks.
For more technical guidance, visit the Pressbooks User Guide and the Pressbooks FAQ. You can also look through the Pressbooks Directory to find examples. A recorded workshop from UM Libraries is also available.
Pressbooks also holds live training sessions. Visit the PressbooksEDU Training Schedule and register to participate.
Integrate private Pressbooks content into UM Learn
You may wish to create content for use in your courses that you are not yet ready to share with the world. To integrate private Pressbooks content into your UM Learn course:
- First, make your entire book private by navigating to the book’s Settings, then Sharing and Privacy page, and selecting Private. This will make the entire book private, so that even if one chapter is published it will not be readable to anyone without access.
- Now, make the chapter(s) you are interested in using public. Do this from the Organize page, checking “Show in Web” beside the chapter(s) you will be incorporating.
- Contact Campus Manitoba and ask to have the UM Learn integration activated in your Pressbooks. (Send them the link and your name.)
- Once you are activated, sign in to your Pressbooks book and navigate to the chapter you want to integrate. Scroll to the bottom of the page. You should see a section called LMS Grade Reporting. A URL will be provided in bold, proceeded by "To add this activity to your LMS, you will need to provide this launch URL." Copy this URL.
- Navigate to your UM Learn course, choose Course Administration, and then External Learning Tools.
- Choose New link. This should take you to a new page. Under Deployment, select Pressbooks. Write in a name of your choosing (eg chapter title), and paste in the URL from your Pressbooks.
- Now go to Content, and select your module of choice, or create a new module. Select Existing Activities, External Learning Tools, and then choose the link name you just created. This will create a link that students can use to access the private chapter.
Resources
Creating/Adapting OERs:
- OS Toolkit: Evaluating OERs
- OS Toolkit: Open Pedagogy
- BCcampus - Adaptation Guide
- Modifying an Open Textbook: What You Need to Know
Getting Started with Pressbooks: