Open Educational Resources in History: A State-of-the Field Essay

Abstract

History practitioners are making steady progress adopting, adapting and creating open educational resources. However, most historians do not have a holistic view of the materials that exist in the open sphere due to poor discoverability and professional standards that still hamper their uptake. This state-of-the-field article discusses the challenges and opportunities of engaging with history OERs as divided into three categories: 1) textbooks and teaching modules, 2) informational websites and interactive experiences, and 3) digital tools for collaborative research. The flexibility and adaptability of these resources, afforded by their open licenses, are key points in their prospects for longevity and enduring benefit for the practice of history. The author concludes that, while more work remains to be done by administrators, librarians and pedagogy specialists around building awareness of open history, the digital revolution and changing attitudes towards collaborative scholarship lead to greater possibilities for this field.