OER (in the context of AI, OER refers to Open Educational Resources): these are freely available and openly licensed teaching, learning, and research materials that can be used, adapted, and shared by anyone. OER can include textbooks, lesson plans, videos, and other resources. AI is increasingly being used to create, curate, and personalize OER, making them more accessible and effective for learners.
OER Definition: OER are materials that are either in the public domain or have been released under an open license (like those from Creative Commons) that permits their free use, adaptation, and redistribution.
Creative Commons (CC) is a non-profit organization that provides legal tools & licenses to creators who want to share their work with the public while retaining some copyright control. These licenses allow others to use, share, and build upon the work under certain conditions, making it easier to share and access creative content legally. Creative Commons licenses work within the existing copyright framework. They don't replace copyright but rather offer creators options for sharing their work beyond the traditional "all rights reserved" model. A creator can choose a specific Creative Commons license that outlines the terms under which their work can be used. These licenses define what others can do with the work (e.g., share, adapt, use commercially) and what they need to do in return (e.g., attribution).
AI is being used to enhance OER in several ways:
Creating new OER: AI can generate textbooks, lesson plans, and other materials based on specific learning objectives and guidelines.
Personalizing OER: AI can tailor OER to individual student needs and learning preferences, making them more effective.
Improving accessibility: AI can help translate OER into different languages and make them accessible to students with disabilities.
Facilitating OER creation: AI tools can assist educators in developing, revising, and remixing OER.
Generative AI and OER:
Generative AI models, particularly those based on natural language processing, are being used to create "generative OER" – resources designed to be used to create more OER. This includes openly licensed prompts and even model weights that allow users to customize and redistribute AI models for educational purposes.
OER and AI in Education:
The intersection of OER and AI is creating new possibilities for open and equitable education. AI can help address the high cost of traditional educational materials and make education more accessible and personalized.