OER Commons Intros Authoring Tool

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 01/06/20
OER Commons authoring tool

OER Commons' Open Author

An organization focused on creating open educational resources for education has developed a new tool for authoring OER. OER Commons' Open Author, as it's named, consolidates the functions of three other utilities from OER Commons: the Resource Builder, Lesson Builder and Module Builder.

The program features:

  • A what-you-see-is-what-you-get editor with an accessibility checker, copy and paste from Word and Excel, and a straightforward math editor;
  • Tools for including images, with alt text and captions;
  • Download options for PDF, EPUB3, SCORM and Thin Common Cartridge files;
  • Import from Google and Microsoft OneDrive; and
  • The ability to include a co-author.

During content development, the author can view the material as either an instructor or learner would see it.

For members of the OER Commons' community, existing materials are still available (through the My Items or Groups spaces).

Once the material is ready for publication, others can remix the resource and use it with other materials.

The organization reported that it would be updating its published views in early 2020.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • a glowing gaming controller, a digital tree structure, and an open book

    Report: Use of Game Engines Expands Beyond Gaming

    Game development technology is increasingly being utilized beyond its traditional gaming roots, according to the recently released annual "State of Game Development" report from development and DevOps solutions provider Perforce Software.

  • abstract representation of equity at the core of AI

    Why Equity Must Be a Core Part of the Conversation About AI

    AI is an immensely powerful tool that can provide customized support for students with diverse learning needs, tailoring educational experiences to meet student’s individual needs more effectively. However, significant disparities in AI access and digital literacy skills prevent many of these same students from fully leveraging its benefits.

  • Man wearing headset working on a computer

    Internet2: Network Routing Security and RPKI Adoption in Research and Education

    We ask James Deaton, vice president of network services, about Internet2's initiatives and leadership efforts to promote routing security and RPKI adoption in research and higher education networks.

  • network of transparent cloud icons, each containing a security symbol like a lock or shield

    Okta, OpenID Foundation Propose New Identity Security Standard

    Okta and the OpenID Foundation have announced the formation of the IPSIE Working Group — with the acronym standing for Interoperability Profiling for Secure Identity in the Enterprise — dedicated to a new identity security standard for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications.