„Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or are under copyright that have been released under an open license, that permit no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, adaptation and redistribution by others.“ (Source: UNESCO definition)
This video explains what OER is – Open Educational Resources erklärt!
OER are licensed in such a way that all users are granted the so-called „5R rights“ (in German 5V-Rechte) free of charge and permanently:
1. Retain
The right to make, own, and control copies of the content (e.g., downloading, storing, and duplicating)
2. Reuse
The right to use the content in a wide range of ways (e.g., in a class, in a study group, on a website, in a video, or in a presentation)
3. Revise
The right to adapt, adjust, modify, or alter the content itself (e.g., translating content into another language or update outdated information)
4. Remix
The right to combine the original or revised content with other open content to create something new (e.g., incorporating images and music into a video)
5. Redistribute
The right to share copies of the original, revised, or remixed content with others (e.g., giving a copy to a friend or publishing it online)
Cited from David Wiley, The Open Definition, 2025.
Further information about OER and the different licenses can be found on OER (Info).
More video tutorials about OER:
- OER kompakt – Wie nutze ich Open Educational Resources (OER)?
- OER kompakt – Wie erstelle und teile ich Open Educational Resources (OER)?
- OER playlist from UNESCO
In Switzerland, various universities are working to promote and strengthen the use of OER. Some universities have adopted OER policies or OER guidelines or mention OER in their open science policies.