Linda Frederiksen's Ten Tips for Authoring Success
10. Good authoring begins with planning
9. It’s going to take longer than you think
8. Share the load
7. Do the prep work
6. Learn the ropes
5. Beware of scope creep
4. Don’t reinvent the wheel
3. It doesn’t have to be perfect
2. Think about ancillary resources
1. Embrace open
Some OER have support materials, like test banks, lessons, syllabi, and assignments, available with the OER text. However, if you need to create your own support materials, you can work with the instructional design team to help develop the materials, or if you would like to create the materials yourself, there are a variety of ways you can do that.
For example tools like ChatGPT and other generative AI tools, can help you by ingesting the OER text and producing support materials.
You can also take advantage of some of the library's online modules that cover information, media, and AI literacy. You can find the links in the Brightpsace External Tool feature or on the research guide on LibraryLEARN.
To start modifying your an existing OER textbook, go to the page "Modifying an Open Textbook" to learn more.
To start authoring your own OER textbook, go to the page "Authoring Open Textbooks" to learn more.
Below find an explanation of each of the CCBC Endorsed OER platforms:
Pressbooks is an open-source publishing platform built on WordPress, used to create and format digital books, especially OER.
Must request access to an account. There is a limited number of licenses. Contact Shaune Pyle (spyle@ccbcmd.edu).
Supports multiple export formats (PDF, EPUB, web).
Enables easy collaboration among authors and editors.
Built-in support for Creative Commons licensing and metadata tagging.
Allows interactive H5P content (quizzes, flashcards, etc.).
Good for long-form, structured content like textbooks or readers.
Integrates with tools like Hypothesis for social annotation.
Faculty creating or adapting open textbooks, manuals, or resource guides.
Supported by the CCBC Libraries through FY26 (Funding renewal TBD).
CourseArc is a web-based instructional design tool focused on modular, media-rich learning content. It's used to build interactive online course units.
Must be request access through the Online Learning team. Contact Shawn Crosby (scrosby@ccbcmd.edu).
Drag-and-drop interface for creating interactive lessons (quizzes, video embeds, timelines, accordions, etc.).
Strong accessibility compliance tools (WCAG 2.1 AA).
Analytics to track learner progress.
Collaborative workflows with approval processes and feedback.
SCORM-compliant exports for use in LMS platforms like Brightspace.
Supported by Online Learning Department
Publishes works in a web-based, elegant format (mobile-friendly and responsive).
Supports rich media embedding (video, audio, images, data visualizations).
Allows for layered reading experiences with annotations, glosses, and reader comments.
Integrates with GitHub, Google Docs, and Word/EPUB files for importing drafts.
Facilitates social reading through highlighting, notes, and discussion features.
Built for versioning—useful in evolving scholarly works or courses that change over time.
Long-form projects with a scholarly or literary focus.
Faculty-curated course readers with multimedia and student interaction.
Collaborative classroom texts where feedback and annotation are encouraged.
Projects that blur the line between publishing and pedagogy.
Supported through Open Education Network membership