The Best Open Educational Resource Textbooks for STEM Fields

Open Educational Resource (OER) textbooks are a cost-effective alternative to traditional textbooks, particularly in the STEM fields. STEM fields such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics are considered to be the backbone of modern society and the need for quality education in these fields is crucial. Here are some of the best OER textbooks for STEM fields:

1. OpenStax: OpenStax offers a wide variety of OER textbooks that cover STEM subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. They are peer-reviewed by experts and align with state and national standards.

2. Khan Academy: Khan Academy offers OER textbooks that cover STEM subjects such as mathematics, science, and computer science. They also offer interactive exercises and quizzes to help students learn.

3. Saylor Academy: Saylor Academy offers OER textbooks that cover a wide range of STEM subjects, including computer science, engineering, and physics. They also offer a free online course that corresponds with each textbook.

4. LibreTexts: LibreTexts offers OER textbooks in a wide range of STEM subjects including math, science, engineering, and computer science. They also provide a suite of integrated tools to support teaching and learning.

5. OER Commons: OER Commons is a platform that allows educators to search for and share OER materials, including STEM textbooks. It has a wide variety of materials for different subjects and grade levels.

6. Project Gutenberg: Project Gutenberg has over 60,000 e-books that are available for free download. It focuses mainly on classic literature and historical texts.

7. MIT OpenCourseWare: MIT OpenCourseWare is a web-based publication of MIT course materials that provides free access to MIT's course content. It covers a wide range of STEM fields and provides access to syllabi, assignments, and lectures.

By using these OER textbooks, educators and students can access high-quality, peer-reviewed educational materials that can be used to supplement traditional classroom materials or as the primary textbook for a course. These resources are especially helpful for students who may not have the financial means to purchase expensive textbooks, or for educators looking for new ways to supplement their curriculum.