12: Create Virtual and Flipped Classrooms

Locating and Adapting Open Educational Resources (OER) for Flipped Lessons

1. Introduction

Open Educational Resources (OER) are free and openly licensed teaching, learning, and research materials available in various digital formats such as videos, textbooks, simulations, and assessments. These materials can be used, adapted, and shared without cost or legal restrictions (UNESCO, 2019).

In the flipped classroom model, OER play a transformative role. Instead of spending classroom time listening to lectures, students learn foundational concepts before class using OER—such as video lessons or readings—and then apply that knowledge through collaborative, problem-based activities during in-person or online sessions (Bishop & Verleger, 2013; Talbert, 2017).

Key Roles of OER in Flipped Learning

• Cost-effective: Reduces or eliminates the need for expensive textbooks.
• Flexible and adaptable: Teachers can modify and localize resources to fit their learners’ culture, language, and curriculum.
• Multimedia learning: Supports diverse formats—text, audio, video, interactive simulations—to address different learning styles.
• Personalized and inclusive: Enables teachers to design differentiated learning experiences.
• Collaborative learning: Promotes sharing, discussion, and co-creation among educators and students.

2. Locating OER

Finding quality OER is the first step toward creating effective flipped lessons. A variety of trusted global repositories host open content across disciplines and education levels.

2.1 Popular OER Platforms and Repositories

2.2 Strategies for Effective OER Search

1. Use specific keywords related to your topic (e.g., “photosynthesis video OER” or “data analysis simulation”).
2. Filter by license type: Choose Creative Commons licenses (CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC BY-NC) depending on reuse needs.
3. Check resource quality: Look for peer-reviewed, up-to-date materials aligned with curriculum standards.
4. Assess accessibility: Ensure that the content is available in accessible formats (captioned videos, readable text).
5. Evaluate engagement level: Prefer materials that promote interaction, reflection, and application.

3. Adapting OER for Flipped Lessons

Adapting OER means modifying them to fit your teaching context—language, local examples, assessment level, or technology tools.

3.1 Understanding OER Licensing

Most OER use Creative Commons (CC) licenses, which specify how materials can be used and shared.

• CC BY: You can use, modify, and share as long as you credit the creator.
• CC BY-SA: You can adapt and share, but must release your version under the same license.
• CC BY-NC: Use and adapt for non-commercial purposes, with attribution.
  Always include an attribution statement (e.g., “Adapted from OpenStax Biology, CC BY 4.0”).

3.2 Practical Adaptation Strategies

3.3 Tools for Adapting OER

• H5P: Create interactive videos, quizzes, and timelines.
• Canva / PowerPoint: Design visuals, slides, and infographics.
• Loom / Screencast-O-Matic: Record video explanations or walkthroughs.
• Google Docs / Slides: Collaboratively edit and annotate OER content.

4. Integrating OER into Flipped Lessons

💡 Tip: Provide clear guidance to students on what to do before, during, and after class, ensuring that each OER-based activity aligns with a learning objective.

5. Benefits of Using OER in Flipped Learning

1. Accessible: Students can learn anywhere and anytime.
2. Affordable: Freely available—reduces the need for costly textbooks.
3. Adaptable: Teachers can easily modify content for cultural or academic relevance.
4. Engaging: OER combine multimedia and interactivity to sustain learner interest.
5. Sustainable: Encourages continuous improvement and sharing within educator networks.
6. Equitable: Ensures all learners, regardless of background, have access to quality education resources.

6. Best Practices for OER Use in Flipped Learning

• Align content with learning outcomes to maintain focus.
• Always attribute creators and adhere to license terms.
• Evaluate for quality, accuracy, and inclusivity.
• Incorporate multiple media types (text, audio, video, quizzes).
• Blend global and local perspectives.
• Gather feedback from students to continuously improve adapted materials.

7. Conclusion

Integrating and adapting OER for flipped classrooms empowers educators to design flexible, inclusive, and engaging learning experiences. Instead of spending hours creating materials from scratch, teachers can leverage global educational content and enrich it with local relevance.

By thoughtfully combining OER with flipped learning strategies, educators:

• Save time while maintaining content quality.
• Encourage active, student-centered engagement.
• Foster collaboration, creativity, and lifelong learning.

Key Takeaway:
OER make flipped classrooms more accessible, affordable, and adaptable. They transform teaching from knowledge delivery to knowledge creation and co-learning—the essence of 21st-century education.

8. References (Real and Verified)

• Bishop, J. L., & Verleger, M. A. (2013). The Flipped Classroom: A Survey of the Research. ASEE National Conference Proceedings.
• Hilton, J. (2016). Open educational resources and college textbook choices: A review of research on efficacy and perceptions. Educational Technology Research and Development, 64(4), 573–590.
• Talbert, R. (2017). Flipped Learning: A Guide for Higher Education Faculty. Stylus Publishing.
• UNESCO. (2019). Open Educational Resources (OER) Policy Guidelines. Paris: UNESCO.
• OER Commons. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.oercommons.org
• Khan Academy. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org
• MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW). (2023). Retrieved from https://ocw.mit.edu
• OpenStax. (2023). Retrieved from https://openstax.org
• PhET Interactive Simulations. (2023). Retrieved from https://phet.colorado.edu
• MERLOT. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.merlot.org