Topic outline

  • General

  • Welcome

    • Why this unit?

      Open Educational Resources (OER) give you free, high-quality materials that you can use, adapt, and share to strengthen teaching and learning. For Tanzanian classrooms, OER help you access curriculum-aligned content without cost, refresh lessons with locally relevant examples, and collaborate with colleagues by remixing and improving materials for your learners.

      Unit competencies

      1. Define OER and explain their key benefits for teaching and learning.
      2. Locate and access reliable OER repositories relevant to the Tanzanian curriculum.
      3. Apply Creative Commons licensing principles to use and adapt materials responsibly.
      4. Integrate OER into lesson planning and classroom practice.



      Recommended time: 2 hours

  • Lesson 1: Introduction to Open Educational Resources (OER)

    • Introduction
      In this session, you will learn about Open Educational Resources (OER), which are teaching and learning materials freely available for use, adaptation, and sharing under open licenses. We will explore the key principles of OER, including openness, accessibility, and the ability to reuse and remix content. You will also discover the benefits of OER for both teachers and learners, such as improving access to quality materials, reducing costs, and allowing content to be adapted to suit specific learning needs. Finally, we will look at the main types of OER, including open textbooks, open courseware, open journals, and open media, which provide a wide range of opportunities to support effective teaching and learning.

      Sub-Competency

      On completion of this lesson you will be able to:

        • Define OER, 
        • Understand its principles, and 
        • Recognize its benefits and types.

      To start with, read the material provided in the page below and later the video provided.

    • To deepen your understanding of OER, OER benefits and guide, consider watching the following videos:

    • Discussion:

      Using the Forum platform below to discuss on:

      • How OER can be used to enhance teaching and learning.
      • Using AI tool to identify examples of open textbooks, courseware, journals, and media.
    • Discussion on OER Forum
      Make forum posts: 1

  • Lesson 2: Locating and Accessing OER

    • Introduction
      In this lesson, we will explore how to locate and access Open Educational Resources (OER), which are freely available materials that support teaching, learning, and research. Understanding how to navigate popular OER repositories and effectively search, filter, and download materials will empower you to enhance your educational experience.

      Sub-Competency

      On completion of this lesson you will be able to locate, access, and download OER materials from popular repositories


      The detailed handouts can be found in the page below

    • Discussion

      After exploring the different methods for finding open content (AI tools, Google Advanced Search, YouTube Creative Commons filters, and Creative Commons Search), which approach worked best for you, and why?

  • Lesson 3: Open Licensing

    • With the rapid growth of open knowledge and freely accessible resources, understanding Creative Commons (CC) licenses has become a vital competence for learners. These licenses provide a clear framework on how Open Educational Resources (OER) can be used, shared, adapted, and remixed responsibly without infringing on copyright. Building this knowledge equips you to attribute sources correctly, adapt materials ethically, and contribute back to the learning community with confidence. 

      Sub-Competency

      On completion of this lesson you will be able to: 

        • Understand Creative Commons licenses and 
        • Learn how to attribute, adapt, and remix OER responsibly.
    • This short test checks your understanding of the different Creative Commons licences. It will help you see how much of the information you have remembered and can apply in your work.

  • Lesson 4: Practical Application of OER in Teaching

    • Introduction

      The power of Open Educational Resources (OER) extends beyond accessing and evaluating materials. It lies in how educators can actively incorporate, create, and share resources to enhance learning experiences. This lesson focuses on practical strategies for using OER in your teaching.

      Sub-Competency

      On completion of this lesson you will be able to: 

        • Integrate OER into lesson plans, 
        • Create digital teaching materials, and 
        • Contribute resources back to the community.


      Please read the handout provided in the page below to gain more skills in this topic

    • Assignment

      1. Choose one topic you will teach in the next week.
      2. Find one OER resource related to that topic (an image, video, diagram, slide deck, or worksheet).
      3. Check the licence (CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC BY-NC, etc.).
      4. Adapt the resource in a small way: translate it, simplify the text, change examples, or add a local context.
      5. Write one sentence explaining how your adapted version is more useful for your learners. Save and use it in your next lesson.
      6. Share your adapted resource with this class using the forum below and ask, “Would this be useful in your class? How could we improve it further?”
      1. Based on the feedback from your peers, revise your revision, and submit your OER using the assignment tool below.

  • Unit Discussion

    • Forum Discussion: Reflecting on Your OER Journey

      For this discussion, please reflect on your learning and share your experience with the group. In your post, respond to the questions below:

      1. What is the most important thing you learned about OER, and why do you think it matters for teachers in Tanzania?
      2. Which OER search strategy or platform did you find most useful, and what made it effective for you?
      3. How confident do you now feel about using Creative Commons licences to guide what you can do with a resource?
      4. Describe your experience adapting an OER. What did you change, and how did the adaptation make the resource more suitable for your learners or context?
      5. How do you see yourself using OER in your future teaching? Give at least one practical example.


      After posting, please read at least one colleague’s contribution and reply with a helpful comment or suggestion.

  • Unit Test

    • After completing this module, it is time to assess your understanding of the key concepts and skills covered by doing the Unit Test below. The test will help you reflect on what you have learned and identify areas for further improvement. Please read each question carefully and manage your time wisely.

       Good luck!

    • Quiz: OER
      Receive a grade

  • Summary and Conclusion

    • Through this unit, you have developed key competencies that will help you strengthen teaching and learning by confidently using Open Educational Resources (OER). You can now explain what OER are and why they matter, identify and access reliable repositories, and apply Creative Commons licences to use, adapt, translate, and share materials responsibly. Most importantly, you are now able to integrate OER into your lesson planning and classroom practice—giving you access to quality, flexible, and up-to-date resources that can reduce textbook shortages, save time, and ensure your teaching remains relevant to Tanzanian learners. By embracing OER, you are also contributing to a culture of openness, collaboration, and continuous professional growth within the teaching community.

  • Attribution and License