Would you like to create a lesson plan directly in Open Space or curate a package of content for others? Use Open Author. In the previous lesson, we saw how to use the Submit from Web option to add a resource with a web address to Open Space. In this lesson, we'll explore the rich content editor that is capable of building lessons, textbooks, and more.

Here are a few highlights of Open Author:

• Main Use: To create a new resource using Open Space’s content editor.
• Benefits: It is a platform for new creations that has teacher and student views. Users can create lessons, learning modules, or even full textbooks and courses.
• Limitations: Users have more control, but there is a bigger time investment to build and edit content.
• Examples: English Language Arts, Grade 11 textbook. American Government textbook.

To start building a new resource in Open Space from scratch, click on the Add OER button in the top navigation bar (1 in the image below), then click the Create Resource button (2).

To get started, view this Open Author overview page for basic information, watch the following introduction to Open Author, and see more features and details below.

Open Author Features

Drag-and-drop functionality for adding media. Want to use a Creative Commons-licensed image that you found? Just drag-and-drop it into the editor. 

Import from Google Drive. Already have a lesson composed elsewhere? Are you more comfortable with writing your work in a word processor first? Use the Import from Google Drive option to quickly add that content to the Open Author editor. 

Use sections to separate your content into chunks. These sections help teachers structure and organize the content. In the student view, the sections occupy separate pages that learners can navigate using arrow buttons. 

Add Instructor Notes to help other educators use your content. These could be instructions, essential questions, other tools or resources to consider, or any other context that might help in lesson delivery or customization. These notes are not displayed in the student view.