Open educational resources (OERs)

A list of platforms, with descriptions including usage instructions and key features, to find and share open educational resources (OERs):

BCcampus OpenEd
BCcampus OpenEd is an initiative based in British Columbia, Canada, that promotes the development and adoption of OERs, particularly open textbooks.

Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB)
This is a non-profit service and online directory that lists peer-reviewed and freely accessible academic books published under open access licences.

Google
Using Google, you can filter search results to find openly licenced materials. Follow these steps:
1.    enter your search term in Google
2.    click ‘Tools’ below the search bar, then ‘Advanced Search’
3.    in the new window go to ‘usage rights’ and select the appropriate ‘free to use’ option.

You can also use Creative Commons licence tags in your search terms to find openly licenced materials relevant to your subject, for example search for “biology textbook CC BY”.

InTechOpen
InTechOpen is a publisher of open access books and journals, primarily focused on science, technology and medicine. It provides open access to scholarly books and peer-reviewed content while allowing authors to publish their work under open access licences.

Figshare 
Figshare stores, shares and manages OERs, increasing the visibility and impact of resources by making their outputs discoverable and citable. A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is assigned to every item for easy citation. 

Flickr 
An online photo and video sharing platform that allows users to upload, organise and share their visual content with others. Many creators choose to license their photos under Creative Commons licences, making them available for others to use under certain conditions. 

ListenNotes
A popular podcast search engine and database that allows users to discover, search and listen to podcasts across a wide range of topics. 

Mason OER Metafinder  
This service enables cross-searching of multiple OER platforms at once. 

MERLOT
The MERLOT repository (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching) is an online resource allowing you to directly create content, upload existing OERs and access a vast collection. 

National Teaching Repository
The National Teaching Repository is a searchable, open access online database where educators can upload and exchange OERs, ideas, approaches and pedagogical research. 

OASIS 
The repository of educational resources from the Commonwealth of Learning, with over 5,000 entries divided into categories such as health sciences, languages and technology. 

OAPEN Library
The OAPEN Library (Open Access Publishing in European Networks) is an online platform that provides free access to peer-reviewed academic books, primarily in the humanities and social sciences. It supports open access publishing and aims to improve the discoverability and accessibility of high-quality scholarly content.

OER Commons 
OER Commons is a comprehensive online repository and collaborative platform for accessing, sharing and authoring OERs. These resources are freely accessible and designed to be used for teaching, learning and research in a variety of educational settings.  

OpenStax 
A non-profit that aims to improve educational access and learning with a vast directory of high-quality peer-reviewed textbooks. 

Open Textbook Library
The Open Textbook Library is a collection of freely accessible, openly licenced textbooks designed to be used in higher education. It is maintained by the Open Education Network (OEN), which is based at the University of Minnesota.

Podbean 
Leeds currently has a pilot with Podbean, a podcast hosting platform and directory that allows users to create, publish and distribute podcasts. 

Sketchfab 
Sketchfab is a platform that allows users to publish, share and explore 3D, VR and AR content online. It serves as both a repository and a tool for the display of 3D models and animations. 

Soundtrap 
A music and podcasting platform, currently undergoing a limited Leeds pilot for specific pre-agreed modules. 

VideoLeeds 
This University of Leeds platform can host and share videos online. 

Wikimedia 
A central repository for media files suitable for educational and informational purposes.

YouTube 
A widely used online video platform where users can upload, share, view and comment on videos. 

Zenodo  
Zenodo provides educators with a place to share and preserve their work, making it publicly available. It assigns a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) to each uploaded item, ensuring its long-term accessibility and citability.