Introduction: Open Educational Resources in Higher Education

Open Educational Resources (OER) represent a transformative approach to educational content that prioritizes accessibility, affordability, and adaptability. These freely available, openly licensed materials include textbooks, course modules, videos, assessments, and entire courses that educators can use, modify, and share without restrictions on copyright. As textbook costs continue to burden students, OER provides a viable alternative that maintains academic quality while eliminating financial barriers to learning.

This blog post highlights five high-quality OER platforms that URI faculty can integrate into their courses. These resources require no special software, are completely free to access and use, and offer content across virtually every academic discipline.

TOP 5 OER PLATFORMS

1. LibreTexts – Website: https://libretexts.org/

LibreTexts is one of the world’s largest OER platforms, providing free, openly licensed textbooks across multiple disciplines, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Humanities, and Social Sciences. All materials are peer-reviewed, regularly updated, and designed to replace expensive commercial textbooks while maintaining academic rigor. Faculty can adopt existing textbooks, remix content from multiple sources to create custom materials, or build entirely new resources using the platform’s authoring tools. LibreTexts integrates with learning management systems and includes built-in assessment tools and analytics, making it an excellent resource for reducing textbook costs while delivering high-quality, customizable educational content.

2. OpenStax – Website: https://openstax.org/

OpenStax is  a nonprofit initiative based at Rice University that provides free, peer-reviewed textbooks for high-enrollment college courses. The platform offers over 50 textbooks covering introductory courses in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Economics, History, Psychology, and Sociology. Each textbook undergoes rigorous peer review by faculty experts and is available in web view, PDF download, and low-cost print editions. OpenStax also provides supplementary resources such as instructor presentations and LMS integration packages. With over 6 million students using OpenStax materials and documented savings exceeding $1.5 billion in textbook costs, this platform offers a proven solution for zero-cost course materials.

3. OER Commons – Website: https://www.oercommons.org/

OER Commons is a comprehensive digital library providing access to over 500,000 open educational resources from around the world. OER Commons aggregates diverse content types, including full courses, modules, lesson plans, videos, simulations, and assessments across all disciplines. The platform offers advanced search capabilities, user reviews, ratings, and usage statistics. Faculty can create personal collections, align resources to learning standards, and remix existing materials using built-in authoring tools. The platform’s social networking features enable educators to connect, collaborate, and share best practices, making it both a resource repository and a professional community for OER implementation.

4. MIT OpenCourseWare – Website: https://ocw.mit.edu/

MIT OpenCourseWare provides free access to course materials from over 2,500 MIT courses spanning undergraduate and graduate levels. The platform publishes actual course content, including syllabi, lecture notes, assignments, exams, videos, and interactive simulations from MIT’s Engineering, Science, Mathematics, Business, and Humanities departments. While not designed as a degree substitute, OCW provides valuable supplementary materials and teaching resources that faculty can adapt for their own courses. Video lectures are particularly valuable for flipped classroom models, and problem sets and exams make excellent practice materials. All materials are openly licensed for adaptation and redistribution.

5. Open Textbook Library – Website: https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/

The Open Textbook Library, managed by the University of Minnesota, provides a curated collection of over 900 openly-licensed textbooks organized by academic discipline. Each textbook includes detailed faculty reviews evaluating accuracy, relevance, clarity, and pedagogical effectiveness, helping instructors make informed adoption decisions. The library covers Arts, Business, Education, Humanities, Mathematics, Medicine, Science, and Social Sciences. All textbooks are available for free PDF download, with many offering editable formats for customization and low-cost print options. The platform includes Pressbooks, an authoring tool that enables faculty to create, edit, or remix their own open textbooks, making it a comprehensive solution for both OER adoption and content development.

Technology is one of the many challenges that many higher education institutions face today. Providing reliable access to computing resources, storing vast amounts of data securely, and scaling systems to meet demand are essential components of a modern academic environment. Cloud computing offers solutions that can transform how colleges and universities support their missions of teaching, learning, and research.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides on-demand access to computing power, storage, databases, and other IT resources. Rather than maintaining expensive physical servers and data centers, institutions can access these resources through the cloud, paying only for what they use. AWS has become a cornerstone of digital transformation in higher education.

AWS can serve as a flexible technology foundation for academic institutions. It can help universities scale resources during peak registration periods, support computationally intensive research projects, and provide students with hands-on experience using industry-standard tools. At URI, AWS infrastructure could support various teaching and learning needs by providing secure, scalable, and cost-effective technology solutions. For example, AWS can:

  • Enable virtual labs and development environments where students can practice real-world technical skills
  • Host learning management systems and student applications such as Brightspace that need to scale during high-traffic periods for example around final exams.
  • Provide computing power for research projects requiring data analysis, machine learning, or simulation
  • Offer secure storage solutions for institutional data, research materials, and digital archives

Imagine a faculty member teaching a data science course. Students need access to powerful computing resources to analyze large datasets and build machine learning models, but the university’s physical computer labs have limited capacity. Using AWS, the instructor sets up virtual environments where each student has their own workspace with the necessary tools and computing power. Students can access these resources anytime, from anywhere, completing assignments on their own schedules. This flexible approach highlights an important benefit for teaching and learning: it removes barriers to access, enables hands-on practice with industry tools, and prepares students for careers where cloud computing skills are in high demand.

Visual for digital transformations

While AWS cannot replace the expertise of IT professionals and educators, it enhances institutional capabilities by providing enterprise-grade infrastructure without the capital investment of building and maintaining physical data centers. It allows universities to respond quickly to changing needs, experiment with new technologies, and focus resources on their core educational mission rather than infrastructure management.

AWS services, available through institutional partnerships and education programs, support teaching and learning by providing students with hands-on experience using the same tools employed by leading organizations worldwide. Programs like AWS Educate and AWS Academy offer free resources, training, and credits specifically designed for educational institutions. By combining cloud infrastructure with thoughtful pedagogical design, educators can create more dynamic, accessible, and career-relevant learning experiences. At the same time, AWS is just one option among many cloud providers, and institutions can decide whether it aligns with their strategic priorities and technical requirements.

AWS is a partner in innovation. It helps institutions modernize their technology infrastructure, expand access to powerful computing resources, and prepare students for a workforce increasingly built on cloud technologies. By supporting flexibility, scalability, and experimentation, AWS makes advanced technology more accessible and cost-effective for both students and educators.

Originally published summer 2025 – Updated enabled in all courses August 28, 2026.

D2L is implementing a New Content Experience in Brightspace here at URI. It is a change in your content screen, where the content already developed takes a more intuitive and efficient process for delivering materials and improves the student digital learning experience. Creating new courses and content will be easier and involve less screens and passthroughs. This will affect both Brightspace and Engage.
When: The New Content Experience will be enabled in all courses starting August 2026.
Transition Period: This began in late August 2025. You can easily switch between Classic and New Content Experience as you explore the interface at your own pace. We encourage you to try NCE in advance, so it feels familiar by the time it becomes the default. At present, faculty may ‘opt in’ to try it out for you and your students.

Helpful Videos

Bright Ideas: Discover the New content experience by D2L
New content experience and Current (classic) experience

No action is required on your part—your existing content will remain in place, and you’ll see the updated interface the next time you access the Content tool. This upgrade will make it easier for you to build and organize content while helping your learners to stay engaged and on track with their learning.

Highlights include:

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Modern and Streamline Design

  • Clean, visual layout with color-coded modules for better organization
  • Simplified workflows that reduce time spent on course management
  • Intuitive navigation that helps learners find what they need quickly

Brightspace IntegrationSeamless Integration with Brightspace Tools

  • Direct access to Assignments, Quizzes, Discussion, and LTI links within the Content tool
  • Fewew clicks and no more switching between tabs
  • Frequent course activities you need in one centralized location

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Mobile-Friendly and Accessible

  • Purposely designed to support accessibility needs
  • Responsive design that works smoothly on mobile, tablet, or desktop

We’re excited for you to experience this improved interface and are here to help every step of the way.
TLS Team

Public speaking is a skill that challenges many students and educators alike.  Speaking clearly, engaging an audience, and organizing ideas effectively are essential components of successful communication.  Artificial intelligence (AI) offers tools that can support the development of these skills in the context of teaching and learning.

Image conveying AI and the Art of Effective CommunicationAI can serve as a digital rehearsal partner. It can help students and faculty draft outlines, refine language, and anticipate audience questions. At URI, AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot can support public speaking preparation by helping users draft outlines, generate ideas, and explore effective ways to engage an audience. For example, AI can:

  • Suggest compelling openings or introductions
  • Rephrase complex sentences for clarity
  • Identify repetitive words or awkward phrasing
  • Generate potential audience questions to practice answering

Imagine a student preparing for a class presentation.  They ask AI to suggest a few ways to open their talk.  The AI offers three different approaches: a surprising statistic, a thought-provoking question, and a short anecdote.  The student chooses one, refines it, and practices delivering it aloud.  This iterative process highlights an important lesson in teaching and learning: it allows students to experiment, gain confidence, and improve before presenting in front of their classmates, reinforcing the value of reflection, practice, and growth.

While AI cannot replace the human element of communication, it enhances learning by providing immediate feedback and encouraging experimentation with language and delivery.  It allows students to practice in a low-stakes environment and gain confidence before presenting in front of their peers.

Tools like these, available to URI students and faculty, support teaching and learning by helping students strengthen communication skills, improve clarity, and build confidence in public speaking.  By combining AI feedback with traditional instruction and practice, educators can create more engaging, effective learning experiences.  At the same time, AI is just one option among many, and faculty can decide whether it aligns with their teaching approach and course goals.

AI is a partner in preparation.  It helps learners refine their ideas, experiment with phrasing, and practice delivery so that when they do speak, they do so with clarity, confidence, and impact.  By supporting reflection, iteration, and revision, AI makes the process of becoming a stronger communicator more accessible and effective for both students and educators.Ready to take your next presentation to the next level?  Try using Microsoft Copilot or another supported AI tool for your upcoming talk, and discover how it can help you craft, refine, and deliver your ideas with confidence.

A Days Journey through the AI @ URI 2.0 Summit

Come with me on a journey exploring AI in teaching learning @ URI. It began as the URI Academic Summit welcomed faculty back to campus in January to discuss AI @ URI 2.0. Opening the event, a URI panel of staff, administration and faculty discussed where URI has come since the last Academic Summit in 2024 on AI and the future based on recommendations from the AI task force report. It is important to clarify that AI includes machine learning, neural networks, and robotics (around for decades), most of the topics for today’s summit address the narrower field of AI: generative AI which became rapidly widespread through open source products (such as ChatGPT). 

Innovative AI Integration in Teaching and Learning Breakout Session

This session explored the innovative ways faculty are incorporating AI into their classrooms. We heard from URI faculty, who are listed below, who have used AI for activities such as group work, individual projects, and programming assignments. Discussion included understanding the impact of AI on student learning and engagement and best practices for motivating students to use these tools effectively.

AI in Business Assignment for Game Creation

Christy Ashley, Marketing/Business
Christy Ashley discussed how students in her business courses made choices about AI tools for game creation. A guest speaker from Hasbro shared insights into how games are developed, and then she showed an example of the differences in game development using AI. Students often approached AI by simplistically replicating her work, not developing their own game creation.

Additionally, there were realtime considerations that impacted the use of the AI such as loading issues. Ashley highlighted the value of experimenting with new approaches in the classroom, experiencing mistakes, and thoughtfully reflecting on how to improve them for future use.

AI in Classroom Discussions and Assignments

Steven Atlas, Marketing/Business
Steven Atlas explored AI’s integration into classroom discussions, embedding learning about AI through discussion forums. He expressed the importance of determining clear parameters for the students. He also introduced optional AI supplements to assignments, allowing students to experiment with AI-generated content and refine their understanding.

For final projects, Steven encouraged students to use AI to develop research questions and benchmark AI behavior against human decision-making. This approach, particularly in marketing research, allowed students to explore how AI processes information differently from humans.

AI in Biology Education

Nic Fisk, Cell & Molecular Biology
Computational biologist and education researcher Nic Fisk emphasized designing assignments suiting the desired learning outcome, which may include how AI is used in research. They contrasted Google and ChatGPT in long-term retention, generalizability, and transfer of skills developed using these tools. They also noted that students’ frustration when they encounter AI-generated errors provides opportunities for learning. For example, prompting a generative AI and identifying missing nuances or important details can help students focus on the interesting elements of their writing or research.

AI’s Analytical Power in Research: Will and Christy

Will and Christy
Will and Christy discussed examining AI’s capabilities in deep analytics, contrasting human limitations with AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data. They highlighted how AI can significantly enhance research methodologies, but also raised concerns about over-reliance on AI-generated insights.





AI in Philosophy and Writing

Will Krieger
Will Krieger explored AI’s role in philosophical writing, emphasizing structured approaches to AI-assisted writing. Writing has always been the way we thought we need to assess philosophy. He has been exploring the outcomes of assignments and courses to consider integrating AI into the process. He implemented a three-submission assignment:

1 – A written detailed prompt asking for a detailed outline specifying sources, material, and objectives.
2 – Use AI to generate a structured essay based on the outline.
3 – Refine the AI-generated material into a final human-authored submission.

This three-submission assignment increases the instructor workload for assessing. Will found that this method worked well for half of the students, reinforcing the idea that specificity in AI prompting leads to better outputs.

AI’s Analytical Power in Research: Will and Christy

Vanessa Harwood
Vanessa Harwood, from the Communication Disorders field, discussed AI’s impact on speech-language pathology as it relates to the arduous chore of phonetic transcription. She noted that while AI can transcribe adult speech accurately, it often struggles with pediatric speech, and more so speech sound disorders.

However, AI tools can significantly reduce documentation time by encoding phonetic transcriptions that are arduous. She advocated for a three-step AI-assisted process that improves efficiency without sacrificing accuracy, where there is a cross check of AI output, ultimately reducing the time spent on transcribing and increasing the time spent with patients. 



Session Wrap Up: AI as a Tool for Thoughtful Integration

The panel concluded with a call for thoughtful AI integration in education. Faculty recognized AI’s ability to create efficiencies, but have also emphasized that it should not replace critical thinking. By understanding AI’s strengths and limitations, faculty can design courses that leverage AI’s benefits while maintaining academic rigor.

Keynote: Courage, AI Systems, and Troubles We Cannot Avoid

Dr. Vance Ricks

Dr. Ricks delved into AI ethics, discussing values in AI design, issue-spotting, and professional responsibilities. He introduced concepts of moral and techno-moral courage, drawing on Shannon Valor’s philosophy of ethical AI use. Key themes included:

  • The importance of intelligent hope and intelligent fear in AI adoption.
  • Recognizing AI as a socio-technological system embedded in broader social contexts.
  • Ethical considerations surrounding AI-driven decisions, especially in teaching and evaluation.

Broader Implications for Teaching Practices


Faculty acknowledged that both students and professors could misuse AI, raising concerns about academic integrity. The conversation emphasized:

  • The historical parallels between AI and past technological fears in advancements like Y2K, calculators, and Wikipedia.
  • The need for well-structured assignments that encourage critical engagement with AI.
  • Institutional approaches to shaping AI adoption in education, balancing efficiency with depth of learning.
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Ultimately, AI’s role in education will continue to evolve, and educators should remain adaptive, ensuring that AI serves as an enhancer to rather than a replacement for meaningful learning.
– Dr. Amanda Jensen

Information Technology Services (ITS) is excited to announce an updated process for Brightspace integrations that aims to:

  • Reduce the technical burden on faculty
  • Save time

Starting in August 2024, ITS will handle the addition of all LTI integrations to Brightspace. Throughout the Fall semester, we will upgrade older LTI 1.1 integrations to the current LTI 1.3 standard. These steps are designed to ensure the security of faculty intellectual property and student private information. ITS will support you throughout the integration configuration and migration process.

Image illustrating integration concept

We encourage the submission of integration requests during July or early August to ensure the review process is completed before the upcoming semester. ITS will be sending out further communication in the coming days, along with opportunities to connect with our team, answer questions, and address concerns. Please do not hesitate to reach out. In the meantime, you may submit a support desk ticket here, attend an ITS Zoom drop-in, or visit us in the Carothers Library, Room 227, during business hours.

About LTI

Integrating third-party applications into URI’s learning management system (LMS), Brightspace, provides faculty and students with new and exciting ways to engage with their learning. These integrations are often accomplished using the Learning Tools Interoperability, commonly known as LTI, standard.

LTI integrations offer enhanced security, streamlined administration, and valuable data sharing between Brightspace and third-party applications. For a number of years, LTI has used the 1.1 standard, which provided basic functions such as streamlined student logins, links to content, grade pass-back… and a baseline level of security. The newest LTI standard, 1.3, builds upon these strengths and offers a significantly more modern security framework, ensuring better protection of student and faculty data as it passes between systems.

On top of LTI 1.3 is a set of tools called LTI Advantage. LTI Advantage leverages all the security capabilities of LTI 1.3 and adds functional improvements such as:

Automated Roster Creation:
See which students are in your class and who has registered with the third-party tool.

Enhanced Assignments and Grades: View the status of an assignment instead of just passing a single numeric grade back to Brightspace.

Deep Linking: Set up links to specific parts of a third-party tool (e.g., a chapter in a book), whereas LTI 1.1 only allowed links to the tool as a whole.

It’s important to note that not every third-party application supports all the functions described here. Some only offer LTI 1.1 connections, others LTI 1.3, and some offer a combination of LTI Advantage enhancements. After a requested integration is approved, the IT Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) team will collaborate with the vendor to configure the integration and leverage all available tools.

Please connect with the TLS team via a Service Desk ticket to start enhancing your courses with LTI integrations.

Sources:

Clark, J. (2023, September 1). What is LTI advantage? – edlink. Edlink Community. https://ed.link/community/lti-advantage/#:~:text=LTI%20Advantage%20is%20a%20set,Deep%20Linking.

Clark, J. (2023a, March 8). LTI advantage explained – Edlink. Edlink Community. https://ed.link/community/eli5-lti-advantage/

Learning tools interoperability. Learning Tools Interoperability | IMS Global Learning Consortium. (n.d.). https://www.imsglobal.org/activity/learning-tools-interoperability

As a Land and Sea Grant University, URI has a responsibility to disseminate research and knowledge to Rhode Islanders and beyond. This task is about to become much easier with the implementation of Course Merchant on the Brightspace Engage platform.

Course Merchant

Course Merchant is a professional and user-friendly storefront that integrates seamlessly with Engage. Members of the public who wish to engage with URI by taking a professional development class, training, or other non-credit bearing course will be able to:

Image showing open door on a laptop screen
  • Easily search for available classes
  • Submit payment
  • Automatically create an Engage user account
  • Automatically enroll in the Engage class

This will create an inviting digital front door for community members and streamline administrative workflows for staff.

The Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) team is currently beginning the implementation process and is eager to connect with faculty, staff, and departments interested in leveraging this tool. For more information, please contact Kevin Gray, IT Project Leader, at kevingray@uri.edu.


Now that spring 2024 is behind us, we look forward to a refreshing summer filled with opportunities for professional growth and technological advancement. Our IT Teaching and Learning Services Team is ready to support your continued educational journey with a variety of training and support options tailored for our faculty. Whether you’re aiming to enhance your teaching tools or simply keep up with the latest in educational technology, our lineup of summer events and support sessions are designed to help.

Illustration of a computer and summer hat on beach and ocean scene

Daily Drop-In Faculty EdTech Support
Throughout the summer, we will continue to offer daily drop-in Faculty EdTech Support sessions. These are perfect for quick questions, troubleshooting, or guidance on using a variety of Brightspace features or integrating third-party technologies into your courses. No appointment is necessary—just join the drop-in sessions on Zoom and come by whenever you need assistance!

Rhody EdTech Essentials
Don’t forget about our Rhody EdTech Essentials on August 21, 9 AM to 12 PM. It provides new and current faculty with all the basic educational technology training they require to begin blended and online instruction in Brightspace. Visit the Rhody EdTech Essentials website for details and registration.

Tech Day: A Day of Innovation and Learning
Also, mark your calendars for our annual Tech Day on August 22 from 9 AM to 3 PM. This event is a cornerstone of our commitment to educational technology innovation, featuring multiple tracks and virtual sessions based on a new theme each year. It’s an ideal setting for networking with colleagues and learning from both our EdTech support staff and fellow faculty members. Visit the Tech Day website for details and registration.

Register Now
Please register early for the Rhody EdTech Essentials and Tech Day to secure your spot. These sessions, along with our daily support, are fantastic ways to prepare for the upcoming academic year while staying on the cutting edge of educational technology.

We look forward to supporting your educational technology needs this summer and hope to see you at our daily support sessions, the Rhody EdTech Essentials, and Tech Day. Have a great summer, and let’s take full advantage of these opportunities to enhance our teaching and learning experiences!