Copyright
Open educational resources (OERs) are free digitized materials offered to educators, students, and self-learners through an open license that allows users to copy, use, adapt, and redistribute for educational and research purposes.
It is important to pay attention to the type of copyright assigned to an OER by its author and to use the OER in strict accordance to its stipulations. In order to facilitate their use, modification, and distribution, many OERs have flexible copyright licenses from organizations such as Creative Commons; these licenses provide varying amounts of protection, ranging from “all rights reserved” (full copyright) to “no rights reserved” (public domain).
For more information, please see our Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines.
Accessibility
To protect individuals with disabilities, federal laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act require public and private higher education institutions to ensure that digital materials are accessible by all students, including those students with disabilities. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) serve as an industry standard and provide specific recommendations for improving accessible web-based content.
Goodwin is committed to ADA compliance, Section 504 accessibility, and the latest WCAG guidelines. It is part of the university's mission and core values to provide open access to higher education and equal opportunity for students with disabilities. More broadly, designing digital content and systems to be equitable and easy to use for all students ensures fair treatment, incorporates diverse perspectives, and enhances the learning environment.
OERs and Student Success
Research shows that OERs are as effective and of the same quality as textbooks in terms of student engagement and performance (Hilton, 2016). In addition, faculty members have found quality OERs more effective in supporting diverse learner needs and promoting an inclusive learning environment, in part through the ability of faculty and others to customize course content and improve alignment to learning outcomes.
OER use also plays a role in removing barriers to student success. Goodwin University and other institutions use OERs as one way to address the needs of low-income and underserved students, who are at a disadvantage with peers who can afford textbooks more easily. OER use is seen as an effective way to ensure that all students, regardless of economic status, have the resources they need to succeed.
Hilton, J., III. (2016). Open educational resources and college textbook choices: a review of research on efficacy and perceptions. Educational Technology Research and Development 64(4): 573–590. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-016-9434-9