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Open Educational Resources (OER)

Learn how to find and use OER materials in teaching and learning.

Best Practices for Leveraging Generative AI to Create and Adapt OER

Educators can leverage generative AI tools to create and adapt Open Educational Resources (OER) effectively while addressing concerns related to content accuracy, bias mitigation, intellectual property (IP) rights, and transparency by adopting structured decision-making frameworks and best practices. Below is a comprehensive approach:

1. Leveraging AI in OER Creation and Adaptation

AI tools can assist educators by:

  • Generating Textual Content: Creating textbook chapters, learning modules, quizzes, and summaries.
  • Enhancing Multimedia Content: Assisting in image generation, video scripts, and interactive exercises.
  • Facilitating Translation & Accessibility: Providing multilingual adaptations and improving accessibility features.
  • Customizing Learning Materials: Personalizing content for different learner levels and needs.

2. Addressing Critical Concerns

A. Content Accuracy

  • Verification & Fact-Checking: AI-generated content should be reviewed against credible sources.
  • Human Oversight: Subject-matter experts must validate AI-assisted outputs.
  • Version Control: Use OER repositories that allow collaborative revision and improvements.

B. Bias Mitigation

  • Diversified Input Sources: Use AI models trained on diverse, representative datasets.
  • Critical Review for Biases: Check for cultural, racial, gender, or ideological biases in AI outputs.
  • Community Feedback: Engage educators and learners in reviewing and improving AI-generated OER.

C. Intellectual Property (IP) Rights

  • Use AI Ethically: Ensure AI-generated content aligns with open licensing (e.g., CC BY, CC BY-SA).
  • Check Copyright Restrictions: AI outputs should not inadvertently reproduce copyrighted material.
  • Attribute AI Contributions: Acknowledge AI assistance where applicable (e.g., CC licenses with AI involvement).

D. Transparency & Ethical AI Use

  • Disclose AI Involvement: Indicate when AI was used in content creation.
  • Explain Decision-Making: Provide rationale for how AI-generated materials were edited and validated.
  • Encourage Digital Literacy: Educators and students should critically engage with AI-generated materials.

3. Decision-Making Frameworks

Adopting structured frameworks ensures ethical AI use in OER:

  1. The AI-Enhanced OER Cycle (Develop – Review – Refine – Share)
    • Develop: Generate content using AI.
    • Review: Fact-check, mitigate biases, and validate sources.
    • Refine: Revise based on feedback.
    • Share: Publish under an appropriate open license.
  2. Responsible AI Use Framework for OER (R.A.T.E.)
    • Reliability: Ensure factual accuracy and proper sourcing.
    • Accountability: Assign responsibility for reviewing AI-generated content.
    • Transparency: Clearly document AI’s role in content creation.
    • Ethics: Adhere to fairness, inclusivity, and accessibility standards.