Open Educational Resources

Here I will discuss some OER starting with things I find on Wikibooks.

In general, I find wikibooks like class notes. Instructors upload resources like they might upload their own notes. Sometimes people are inspired and modify a chapter or two. Images, for the most part, come from Wikimedia Commons, but the format inspires people to contribute to the commons in order to put images in books. Derivative work images also occur.

In general, I find OER a bit inconsistent. Published textbooks are often more consistent in the level they are written. Much OER has a moderate consistency for most of the work, and some areas where they are more specialized or specific. I think I will mark such areas - Inconsistent Detail. Other terms to use are Level too low (LTL) and Level too high (LTL).

Another thing I fear is inconsistent referencing. I find the problem in my own work. Some statements need to be verified or updated to reflect the times. That is a major win for wikibooks, because individuals can come in and update and reference facts. The problem is that when they do, it disrupts the style, and damages readability. Having a consistent voice in a work improves readablity.

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