Open Educational Resources (OER)

Open Educational Resources are beneficial because they address the financial barriers posed by costly textbooks, which can limit access to learning opportunities for many students at McMaster. Traditional textbooks often come in rigid formats that don’t accommodate diverse learning styles, whereas OER provide adaptable, interactive materials that can support different learning styles.

Beyond improving accessibility, engaging with OER can also offer hands-on experience in areas such as publishing, editing, research, and creating accessible content, developing skills that are valuable in both academic and professional settings. By using, creating, and adapting OER, students can help ensure that learning materials remain inclusive, affordable, and equitable for all.

You can advocate for OER by: 

• Promoting OER during student elections or campaigns
• Collaborating with student clubs to host OER awareness sessions
• Starting an OER student advocacy group or joining the OER Committee
• Applying to be a Student OER Advocate
• Hosting and engaging with events during Open Education Week

You can contribute to OER by: 

• Co-creating OER content with professors or student organizations
• Adapting, reviewing, or editing existing OER 
• Testing OER materials being piloted in courses and giving feedback

OER Advocates are a group of undergraduate students employed by McMaster Libraries who help make education at McMaster more affordable and accessible by promoting the use of OER. In this role, students learn about textbook affordability, OER, and student advocacy through specialized training.

They create content for students, faculty, and staff, organize outreach events, and share information about how OER can improve learning for everyone. OER Advocates also gain valuable experience in communication, project management, and advocacy, which helps build strong skills for futures in any discipline.