November 13, 2025 · Open educational resources (OER)

Open Math Resources

What are Open Math Resources?

Definition of Open Educational Resources (OER)

Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning, and research materials that are freely available for use, adaptation, and redistribution. They include textbooks, lecture videos, problem sets, slides, and assessments that are shared under licenses that permit wide reuse. In math, OER can take the form of open textbooks, interactive calculators, searchable libraries of practice problems, and open course modules that educators can tailor to their needs. The core idea is to remove unnecessary barriers to access while enabling ongoing refinement by the education community.

Open math resources basics (licensing, access)

Open math resources revolve around licensing that explicitly allows access, reuse, adaptation, and redistribution. Most open math content uses Creative Commons licenses or similar frameworks that spell out what users can do with the material. Access is typically digital, often available for free or at minimal cost, and designed to be downloadable or viewable offline when possible. The licensing terms determine whether derivatives are permitted, whether resources can be used commercially, and whether attribution is required. Together, these basics support a sustainable ecosystem where educators can customize content for different classrooms and languages.

Key differences between open and proprietary resources

Open resources differ from proprietary ones in several important ways. Open materials usually come with explicit licensing that invites reuse and adaptation, whereas proprietary resources restrict copying or modification. Open resources often provide version history and community contributions that improve accuracy and relevance over time. They also aim to reduce total cost of ownership by eliminating or reducing per-user access fees, enabling broad distribution and equitable access. Finally, open materials encourage collaboration across institutions, enabling faster updates and alignment with evolving standards.

Benefits of Open Math Resources

Increased accessibility and equity

Open math resources remove financial and geographic barriers that limit access to quality educational materials. Students in under-resourced schools or remote areas can download textbooks, problem sets, and tutorials without paying for expensive licenses. Accessibility also extends to inclusive formats, such as transcripts, audiobooks, and accessible math content that supports learners with diverse needs. When resources are openly licensed, schools can adapt content to reflect local languages and contexts, promoting equity in foundational math education.

Cost savings for schools and families

By reducing or eliminating licensing fees, open math resources cut long-term costs for districts and families. This can translate into more funds for teacher professional development, classroom technology, or supplemental activities. While the upfront effort to locate, evaluate, and tailor open materials exists, the ongoing expense of maintaining access to comprehensive math resources tends to be far lower than for subscription-based or publisher-locked content.

Up-to-date content and localized materials

Open resources can be updated rapidly to reflect new standards, research findings, or curriculum changes. Because the content is openly licensed, teachers and institutions can translate materials, adapt examples to reflect local contexts, and align resources with state or national standards. This leads to more timely, relevant, and culturally responsive math instruction that remains current without waiting for a formal, publisher-driven revision cycle.

Collaborative improvement and open pedagogy

Open resources invite collaboration among teachers, students, and researchers. Open pedagogy encourages learners to contribute to the creation and improvement of materials, share solutions, and co-author problem sets. This collaborative model not only enhances resource quality but also builds teacher expertise and community ownership. As a result, math instruction can become more iterative, transparent, and aligned with real classroom needs.

Where to Find Open Math Resources

Open educational repositories

Open educational repositories collect a wide range of openly licensed materials, including math. Examples include platforms that curate textbooks, modules, activities, and assessments. These repositories help educators discover resources that are already reviewed for quality, re-usable under open licenses, and suitable for different grade levels. When exploring repositories, look for clear licensing, detailed usage rights, and metadata that supports search and alignment with standards.

Math-specific OER collections

Several math-focused collections curate open resources centered on mathematics topics, from elementary arithmetic to advanced calculus and statistics. These collections often organize materials by topic, grade level, and learning objective, making it easier to assemble units or modules. They may include open textbooks, problem banks, interactive simulations, and teacher guides designed specifically for math instruction. The math emphasis helps educators quickly assemble coherent sequences that support concept development and practice.

Licensing basics to look for

When evaluating open resources, consider the licensing and what it permits. Common licenses include:

Attribution (BY): you must credit the creator when using the work.
Share-alike (SA): derivative works must be released under the same license.
Non-commercial (NC): the work cannot be used for commercial purposes.
No derivatives (ND): you can reuse the work but cannot modify it.

In addition to the license, check for compatibility with your intended use, whether translations and adaptations are allowed, and whether there are any embargoes or geographic restrictions. A clear license summary helps teachers decide how the material can be integrated into lesson plans and assessments.

Licensing and Usage of Open Math Resources

Creative Commons licenses explained

Creative Commons licenses provide a standardized way to grant permission for reuse. The licenses range from permissive (such as CC BY, which requires attribution) to more restrictive (such as CC BY-NC-ND, which restricts commercial use and modifications). Understanding the particular CC terms attached to a resource is essential to ensure that your use—whether for a classroom handout, a course module, or a derivative adaptation—complies with the license.

Attribution and derivatives

Most open math resources require attribution to the original author or source. Attribution should be clear and indicate the work and its license. When derivatives are allowed, educators can adapt content to fit their curriculum, create new problem sets, or translate material into another language. If derivatives are restricted, you may still reuse the original content, but you cannot modify it. Always verify the license details before adapting or redistributing.

Respecting license terms and recourse

Respecting license terms means following attribution requirements, respecting share-alike provisions, and adhering to any non-commercial or no-derivatives restrictions. If you encounter a license violation, you can contact the content creator or hosting platform to request correction or pursue formal remedies as defined by applicable laws and platform policies. Proper documentation of licenses and attributions helps protect both educators and publishers and sustains the open resource ecosystem.

Implementing Open Math Resources in Classrooms

Adoption steps

To adopt open math resources effectively, start with a needs assessment: identify topics, gaps, and student contexts. Next, locate resources with appropriate licensing, align them with standards, and pilot in a single unit. Gather feedback from students and teachers, revise based on outcomes, and scale up gradually. Maintain a record of licenses and attributions to ensure ongoing compliance. Finally, foster a feedback loop that invites local adaptation and improvement over time.

Curation and alignment with standards

Curating open math materials involves matching content to learning objectives and standards, ensuring coherence across lessons, and verifying accessibility. Consider curriculum maps that show where resources fit within a unit or course, check for prerequisite knowledge, and assess whether the materials provide varied representations of concepts. Curators should also verify that translations and localization align with regional standards and assessment expectations.

Assessment strategies using open resources

Open resources enable flexible assessment approaches. Use ready-made problem sets as quick checks, or customize items to align with learning goals. Combine open quizzes, exit tickets, and project-based tasks to gauge conceptual understanding and procedural fluency. Document learning progress with rubrics that reflect both correctness and process, and consider using open data sets for applied math investigations to support higher-order thinking.

Open Math Resources for Different Audiences

Resources for students

Student-facing open math resources emphasize clarity, accessibility, and engagement. Formats may include interactive tutorials, step-by-step problem solutions, and self-paced modules in multiple languages. Accessible math content should support screen readers, alternative text for figures, and options for adjustable font sizes. When possible, materials should provide multiple representations of a concept—visual, symbolic, and contextual—to support diverse learner needs.

Resources for teachers

Teacher-oriented open resources offer lesson plans, teaching guides, activity ideas, and professional development materials. These resources help teachers plan, sequence, and differentiate instruction, while also offering ways to assess student learning with open-ended tasks and performance tasks. Community discussions, exemplar units, and editable rubrics empower teachers to adapt content without starting from scratch.

Resources for higher education and researchers

In higher education, open math resources include textbooks, lecture notes, course modules, and research data. Open access promotes transparency in pedagogy and supports reproducible research. For researchers, openly licensed materials facilitate collaboration, peer review, and cross-institutional studies, expanding the reach of mathematical ideas and methods beyond traditional publication channels.

Trusted Source Insight

Summary: UNESCO highlights open educational resources and open licensing as a key strategy to democratize access to quality education worldwide. It emphasizes the need for policy support, capacity building, and adaptable, multilingual materials to meet diverse learner needs, including math education. For the primary source, see https://unesdoc.unesco.org.