Exploring the Commons
OER can include full courses, textbooks, or a variety of instructional materials including images, videos, or documents. It is estimated that there are now more than 1.4 billion works licensed under various Creative Commons licenses (State of the Commons, 2017). The growing collection of openly licensed works, whether digital or not, is referred to as The Commons. So how do you go about finding resources that suit your needs? You can find OER by using search engines or by searching or browsing OER repositories.
This video by Amy Hofer, Statewide Open Education Library Services Coordinator, Open Oregon, shares time-saving tips on searching for OER. Remember that an open license gives you many possible ways to legally re-purpose the materials you find.
Contact Jean Shumway, BC3 Librarian, for assistance finding openly licensed resources, as well as assistance with adopting resources and understanding and Creative Commons licenses: jean.shumway@bc3.edu
Open textbooks are textbooks that have been funded, published, and licensed to be freely used, adapted, and distributed. Many of these books have been reviewed by faculty from a variety of colleges and universities to assess their quality. These books can be downloaded for no cost, or printed at low cost.
Using Google Advanced SearchThe Google search engine has an “Advanced Search” that lets you search by usage rights for content published to the Internet under an open license. The Advanced Search dialogue can be found under the Settings function or can be directly accessed at http://www.google.com/advanced_search
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BC3 Courses and Faculty Using OER |
OER Texts Used |
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ARTS 101 Introduction to Art
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- available through LibreTexts |
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ARTS 104 Art History
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Introduction to Art History by Cerise Myers, Ellen Caldwell, Margaret Phelps, and Alice Taylor. - available through LibreTexts |
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ARTS 105 Art History II
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A World Perspective of Art History by Gustlin and Gustlin - available through LibreTexts |
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BIOL 101 Biology 1
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Concepts of Biology by Fowler, Roush and Wise - available through OpenStax |
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BIOL 103: Environmental Biology
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Environmental Biology ed by Mark Fisher - available through Open Oregon |
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BIOL 131 Anatomy and Physiology I
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Anatomy and Physiology by Betts et al - available through OpenStax |
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BIOL 132 Anatomy and Physiology II
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Anatomy and Physiology by Betts et al - available through OpenStax |
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BIOL 201 Microbiology
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Microbiology by Allen et al - available through OpenStax |
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BUSN 139 Business Ethics (course also listed as COMP 208 Computer Ethics)
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Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics - available through Pressbooks |
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COMM 101 Introduction to Mass Communications
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Mass Communication, Media and Culture - available through Open Textbook Library |
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COMM 201 Speech
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It's About Them: Public Speaking in the 21st Century by Kim, Marshall, and Pulliam - available through Open Textbook Library |
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COMM 201 Speech
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Introduction to Speech Communication by Hollingsworth - available through Open Textbook Library |
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COMM 201 Speech
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Exploring Public Speaking by Tucker et al - available through Galileo |
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COMP 208 Computer Ethics
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Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics - available through Pressbooks |
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ECON 101 Macro Economics
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The Joy of Economics by Stonebraker - available through Scribd |
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ECON 102 Micro Economics
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The Joy of Economics by Stonebraker - available through Scribd |
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ELEC 101 DC Circuits
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DC Electrical Circuit Analysis by Fiore |
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ELEC 102 AC Electrical Circuit Analysis
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AC Electrical Circuit Analysis: A Practical Approach by Fiore |
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ELEC 225 Digital Electronics
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An Animated Introduction to Digital Logic Design by Carpinelli - available through Digital Commons |
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ENGL 036 Developmental Integrated Reading and Writing
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Reading and Writing Successfully in College: A Guide for Students by Lynne - available through LibreTexts |
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ENGL 101 College Writing
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- available through Pressbooks 88 Open Essays: A Reader for Students of Composition & Rhetoric - available through Pressbooks (published by Open Washington) |
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ENGL 101 College Writing
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The Word on College Reading and Writing by Burnett et al - available through Pressbooks (published by Open Oregon) |
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ENGL 102 Research Writing
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ENGL 180 Film Analysis
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Moving Pictures: An Introduction to Cinema by Russell Sharman - available through Pressbooks |
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GEOG 101 World Geography
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- available through Open Textbook Library |
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HLTH 120 Health Science
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Health Education by Garrett Rieck and Justin Lundin, College of the Canyons - available through LibreTexts |
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HIST 201 Early U.S. History
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U.S. History by Corbett et al - available through OpenStax |
| HIST 202 Recent U.S. History |
U.S. History by Corbett et al - available through OpenStax |
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HIST 205 Contemporary World History
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World History Vol 2: from 1400 by Kordas, Lynch, Nelson, and Tatlock - available through OpenStax |
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MATH 100 Intermediate Algebra
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- available through Saylor Academy |
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MATH 221 Calculus I
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Calculus Volume1 by Gilbert Strang and Edwin "Jed" Herman - available through OpenStax |
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MATH 222 Calculus II
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Calculus Volume 2 by Gilbert Strang and Edwin "Jed" Herman - available through OpenStax |
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MATH 223 Calculus III
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Calculus Volume 3 by Gilbert Strang and Edwin "Jed" Herman - available through OpenStax |
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NPHS 105 Introduction to Cyber Security
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Using NIST for Security and Risk Assessment by Thomas P. Dover - available through Pressbooks |
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PEHD 125 Physical Wellness
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Concepts of Fitness and Wellness by Scott Flynn, Lisa Jellum, Althea Moser, Jonathan Howard, Sharryse Henderson, Christin Collins, Amanda West, and David Mathis, College of the Canyons - available through LibreTexts |
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PEHD 125 Physical Wellness
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Concepts of Fitness and Wellness by Scott Flynn, Lisa Jellum, Althea Moser, Jonathan Howard, Sharryse Henderson, Christin Collins, Amanda West, and David Mathis, College of the Canyons - available through Open Textbook Library |
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PHIL 201 Philosophy
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Introduction to Philosophy by Smith - available through OpenStax |
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PHIL 208 Ethics
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Ethics for A-Level by Mark Dimmick and Andrew Fisher - available through Open Book Publishers |
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PHSC 110 Environmental Science
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Introduction to Environmental Science by Zehnder et al - available through Galileo |
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PSYC 201 General Psychology
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Psychology 2e by Spielman, Rose M.; Jenkins, William; and Lovett, Marilyn - available through OpenStax |
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PSYC 201 Abnormal Psychology
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Fundamentals of Psychological Disorders by Bridley and Daffin - available through LibreTexts |
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SOCI 211 Principles of Sociology
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Introduction to Sociology by Conerly, Holmes, and Tamang - available through OpenStax |
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SOCI 211 Principles of Sociology
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Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World (Barkan) - available through LibreTexts |
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SOCI 2112 Contemporary Social Problems
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Social Problems: Continuity and Change - available through LibreTexts |
