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Increasingly, educators are turning to Open Educational Resources (OERs) as teaching tools. OERs are free publicly available educational resources that anyone can copy, use, adapt, and re-share. Numerous OERs exist for teachers, but ever wondered if you could create your own? Do-it-yourself OER is not as daunting of a task as it may first appear.

I am a high school science teacher in the state of Maine, and in the summer of 2012, I created an OER for my Chemistry course. I was able to do this with a little training and content I already had on hand, and the course currently has over 111,000 subscribers--and continues to grow.

I feel my students have benefitted from this OER content because it specifically addresses their background understanding, is directed at their learning objectives, and can be readily edited to meet emerging needs. Now, I'm here to share my secrets with you.

So, how can you get started creating OERs?

1. Consider Devices and Delivery

Development of an OER begins with a quick (informal) survey of the devices available to you and your students. It is important that your OER is available to as many of your students as much of the time as possible. Do you want iOS, Android, Mac, or PC content? Most students in 2014 have access to multiple devices. Is it important that your content is available on more than one platform?

Once you have decided on a target device(s), you can consider how you want to deliver content. Delivery options range from learning management systems (LMSs) such as Edmodo, Moodle, Schoology, Blackboard, and Google Classroom, to digital curriculum such as iTunes U, Coursera, and edX, to electronic textbooks (which can be easier to write/create than you think). Your decision should take into account the requirements and resources of your school/district, the (friendly) advice of colleagues, and your comfort level with the technology and tools.

In other words, there is no one correct answer. And once you have an idea of what delivery option you want to use, it's time to...

2. Test Drive the Delivery Vehicle

Now, it's time to create a course. The best way to evaluate the ease of use, the appropriateness for the content, the compatibility with your teaching style, and the flexibility to continuously modify is to create a course. You can use your actual curriculum, or build a course with space filler text. Before you start designing your own, enroll in a course as a learner to see how it feels. Ask colleagues if you can join one of their courses or use a publicly available course. If the interface doesn't work for you as a learner, it will likely not work for your students either.

If the interface doesn't work for you as a learner, it will likely not work for your students either.

Once you've tested, it's time to decide on your delivery vehicle for your content--and know that you can "smash delivery vehicles." You can embed books within courses, courses within learning management systems, etc.

For example, I use iTunes U as the delivery vehicle for my curriculum. With iTunes U, I can easily create courses which are very intuitive for students. I am able to include a diverse array of resources and have access to features (such as embedded note taking and discussions) that enhance the learning experience. I also use iBooks Author to write books that are contained within my iTunes U courses and that are available through the iBookstore.

Regardless of the particular delivery vehicle you select, you should...

3. Develop an Understanding of Copyright

The open in OER means that the content is available online to the public and can be legally used by anyone.

You will want to acquire a basic understanding of copyright from the perspective of material you will be using and material you will be creating. The best source of information (and support) for educators is Creative Commons, which allows you to license your work and allows you to use the work of others.

You've got your delivery system and you know your copyright limits. Now, you can...

4. Pull Together Content

It's time to pull together all of the content you'll use in your course. It is not necessary to begin with all the curriculum for a course; you can start small with a lesson or unit. It will be easy to scale up later when you have a sense of what is working well and what is not working well. For example, when I started my first Chemistry class using iTunes U, I had the first few topics ready to go and the rest in an outline form.

Play to your strengths and use material you already have on hand, but also vary your content.

When I am looking for content, I look at vetted lists of educational apps such as Appolearning, collections of videos such as TedEd, and courses created by other educators.

As you assemble your OER content, make sure to...

5. Strive for Diversity

Play to your strengths and use material you already have on hand, but also vary your content.

WIth OERs, you can deliver content in varied formats (images, audio recordings, text, videos, prerecorded slideshows, interactive quizzes, and more). Make it your own by incorporating curricula that highlights what you do well. If you are great at making screencasts, use them. If you create wonderful graphic notes, incorporate them. Use OER developed by other educators, and make use of the material you have already created.

6. Look for Support

As you develop your OER, seek out other professionals who can review your work, give you tips, and otherwise encourage you. I am an Apple Distinguished Educator, and when I am stuck, I can reach out to these colleagues for support.

You can develop your own network of educators through conferences, institutes, training sessions, and through any professional development activities you participate in.Go to events where you can work with other educators and create content. Consider a CUE Rock Star Camp or Promise to Practice, for example.

And last, but not least...

7. Expect to Evolve

I have moved from mass-produced content to creating my own content to empowering my students to create content. With each new year, I incorporate new features, new ideas, and new approaches. Some improvements come from other educators, while many ideas come from my students. By listening to them, I am always learning how to create better OERs.

At the end of the day, an open mind is one of the biggest keys to being a stellar OER creator. Good luck!

NOTE: This article is part of EdSurge's Fifty States Initiative (representing the state of Maine).

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A 7-Step Guide to Creating Your Own Open Educational Resources - EdSurge News

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Increasingly, educators are turning to Open Educational Resources (OERs) as teaching tools. OERs are free publicly available educational resources that anyone can copy, use, adapt, and re-share. Numerous OERs exist for teachers, but ever wondered if you could create your own? Do-it-yourself OER is not as daunting of a task as it may first appear.

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OER Commons is a dynamic digital library and network. Explore open education resources and join our network of educators dedicated to curriculum improvement.

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Create your free OpenLearn profile

Get the most out of OpenLearn

Anyone can learn for free on OpenLearn, but signing-up will give you access to your personal learning profile and record of achievements that you earn while you study.

Anyone can learn for free on OpenLearn but creating an account lets you set up a personal learning profile which tracks your course progress and gives you access to Statements of Participation and digital badges you earn along the way. Sign-up now!

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creating open educational resources: 2 what makes a good oer?

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Anyone can learn for free on OpenLearn, but signing-up will give you access to your personal learning profile and record of achievements that you earn while you study. Anyone can learn for free on OpenLearn but creating an account lets you set up a personal learning profile which tracks your course progress and gives you access to Statements of Participation and digital badges you earn along the way.

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CYBERSECURITY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: 10 QUESTIONS
Connectivity is delivering big benefits to the construction industry-higher productivity, lower costs, a safer work environment. But as companies like yours grow more dependent on internet-connected technologies, data security becomes more critical than ever. It's unusual to hear about a data breach in the construction world, yet the risks are there and need to be managed. Although this topic is best addressed with IT professionals, here are a few questions to get you thinking.

1. Am I really a target?
Any business connected to the internet is at risk for a cyberattack. And it's not just large companies. A report from Verizon says small businesses represent 85 percent of the targets of opportunity for data breaches.¹

2. Hackers-coming after me? You're kidding, right?
Cyber criminals are everywhere, but studies say the most common cause of a data breach isn't hacking. It's lost or stolen portable devices such as phones, laptops, tablets and flash drives.²

3. Which systems are vulnerable?
All of them. Unauthorized users could exploit any of your data, whether it comes from a Building Information Modeling (BIM) system, telematics solution, project management software, CRM tool, or corporate financial or HR system. Your clients' data-as well as your subcontractors'-may also be at risk if you share network access.

4. What kinds of data are most valuable?
Some intruders want site plans, drawings, contract terms or bid information. Others could be after fleet data, customer records, financial statements or banking info. Identity thieves would love to get their hands on personal information about your employees-full names, social security numbers, bank account data, medical history. And some folks just want money. Using what's called a ransom-ware virus, they capture your data and hold it hostage-effectively locking you out of your systems until a ransom is paid.

5. What will a data breach cost me?
The average cost of a data breach is $4 million, according to a 2016 report from the Ponemon Institute, an independent research firm that studies information security. The average cost per lost or stolen record is $158.³

6. What's included in those costs?
The costs associated with a data breach vary according to the situation, but you can expect to spend money on things like:

Internal investigation of the breach

IT experts hired to find and fix the issue

Other professional services (legal counsel, crisis communications, hotline support, free credit monitoring)

Communications to employees, clients and othersOther costs could include:

Other costs could include:

Downtime, lost production and other work disruptions

Loss of future business due to erosion of trust

Investments in new solutions to prevent future breaches

Regulatory fines or penalties

Litigation

7. Won't my insurance cover it?
That depends. Many general commercial liability policies don't cover cybercrime, so you may need extra protection. However, all cyber policies are not created equal, so your best bet is to work with a trusted provider who can tailor coverage to meet your needs.

8. Who's accountable for maintaining data security?
Everyone in your company has accountability. It starts at the top with leaders who are willing to invest time and resources in developing a security strategy, administrative policies and written workplace procedures. All others in the organization need to be educated about your policies and trained to use specific processes that support your data security goals. Data security should be part of the ongoing conversation between employees and their supervisors and a component of the annual performance review process.

9. What specific steps can we take to secure our data?
Start with the fundamentals.

Inventory the data. Know exactly what you have, where you store it and who has access to it.

Store data centrally-either on secure servers or in the cloud-but not on individual hard drives.

Invest in an enterprise-grade firewall and make sure security patch updates get done regularly.Use centrally managed anti-malware on all company devices, even personal devices that can access company networks.

Make sure all personal devices used to access company networks are equipped with data encryption, passwords or PIN locks.

Insist on rigorous password protection. Use a mix of numbers, letters and symbols. Change passwords every 90 days. Include lock-out provisions that freeze accounts after a certain number of incorrect log-in attempts.

Make sure all data is backed up on a regular schedule.

10. How do I choose an IT security partner?
Start with your professional network. Ask friends and associates for referrals and recommendations. Look for someone with proven experience in the construction business. Inquire about advanced qualifications and certifications. Interview more than one candidate. Speak with references and read reviews on the internet. Before making your final choice, clarify expectations regarding time, scope, cost, personnel requirements, communication, training and other factors that are important to you.

Be prepared
The benefits of connectivity are real. Companies everywhere are bringing internet-connected technologies to the job site to save time, cut costs, increase operator productivity and create safer work environments. But as you invest in a more efficient and profitable business, don't overlook the importance of data security. Make it priority now.

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CYBERSECURITY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: 10 QUESTIONS - Cat All Day

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CYBERSECURITY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: 10 QUESTIONS Connectivity is delivering big benefits to the construction industry-higher productivity, lower costs, a safer work environment. But as companies like yours grow more dependent on internet-connected technologies, data security becomes more critical than ever.

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Cat | Report Potential Security Vulnerabilities | Caterpillar

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Report information about an information or cybersecurity vulnerability related to the security of a product or service offered by Caterpillar or its affiliates.