If you can't find existing OER suitable for your course, or you simply have an idea for an openly licensed project, we can work with you to develop custom course materials. Starting from scratch can be a daunting task, but you also have the option of modifying or adapting an OER (if the work's open license allows for it). In either case, there are a variety of options to get help you create new content, including using existing course notes and presentations slides.
OER authors often begin their projects using Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or another word processing program, then publish their OER as a PDF or upload the content to a web-based publishing platform. There are a variety of platform options available depending on your need.
Cowles Library provides access to Drake Pressbooks, a user-friendly OER publishing platform built on WordPress. Some features:
Our Pressbooks subscription limits the number of books we're able to publish, but an unlimited number of authors can collaborate on a single text. Contact andrew.welch@drake.edu to get started using Drake Pressbooks.
Since 2021, Cowles Library has been able to offer grant opportunities to faculty who want to learn more about OER or want to create OER for one or more of their courses. Some grants have come from external sources, others have been sponsored by the Provost's Office, and the amount of grant stipends varies with each grant program.
To see if there are any current or upcoming OER grant opportunies, check our OER Guide.
Explore examples of OER created or used by Drake faculty on our Drake OER page.
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