Writing Content
Introduction
You’ve done the groundwork—you’ve mapped out your chapter’s structure and identified key ideas, learning outcomes, and supporting materials. Now it’s time to bring it to life through writing. If you’re wondering how to begin, start with this mindset: Don’t write like a textbook. Write like you teach. You already know how to explain things to students in clear, supportive ways. That same voice and approach is what makes an OER chapter powerful and effective.
Write in Your Teaching Voice
Don’t worry about sounding “scholarly” or “formal.” The best OER chapters reflect how you speak when you’re at the front of the room, leading a discussion or guiding a hands-on activity.
- Use plain, conversational language.
- Anticipate common questions or misconceptions and address them.
- Reinforce key ideas with real-world examples, especially from the workplace or community.
- Talk directly to students when it makes sense: “Let’s look at how this works in a manufacturing setting.”
As you know, students at technical colleges come from diverse backgrounds. Many are juggling jobs, caregiving, or returning to school. Clear, empathetic writing helps everyone feel welcome and supported.
Build from the Outline, One Section at a Time
With your outline in hand, start expanding one section at a time:
- Use headings from your outline to organize your draft.
- Begin each section with a brief explanation of what’s coming.
- Write in short paragraphs (3–5 sentences), and break up dense text with examples, lists, and visuals where possible.
- Don’t get stuck on perfection—get the ideas down, then revise later.
If you get stuck, try recording yourself explaining the topic out loud and then transcribe it. That’s often your best first draft.
Include Examples, Activities, and Student-Facing Language
What makes OER different from a traditional textbook is how personal and flexible it can be. Enhance student engagement with:
- Scenario-based examples from industry, the lab, or the field.
- Reflection prompts that ask students to connect the material to their experience.
- Short activities or guided practice embedded in the text.
- Use images, videos, charts, diagrams, etc. to convey the message in different ways.
Try phrasing like:
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“Imagine you’re working in a clinic and encounter…”
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“Try this: Sketch a simple flowchart of the process described above.”
Keep Accessibility and Inclusion in Mind
Make your chapter usable for all learners:
- Use alt-text for images and diagrams.
- Describe charts and tables in plain language.
- Use clear headings and logical structure for screen readers.
- Be intentional about representation—avoid stereotypes and include diverse names, settings, and perspectives.
Use Open Content Thoughtfully
If you’re bringing in content from other OER:
- Make sure the license allows reuse or adaptation (e.g., CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC0).
- Clearly attribute borrowed content with Title, Author, Source, and License.
- If you revise or adapt something, note that for transparency.
How Long Should a Chapter Be?
There’s no magic number when it comes to chapter length. Don’t worry about hitting a certain page count—what matters most is that your chapter clearly supports the learning objectives or course competencies. Some chapters might take 5 pages to get the job done, others might need 15 or even 20 pages depending on the complexity of the topic. Focus on what your students truly need to understand the concept and apply it in real-world situations. If you’ve taught it before, you already have a sense of how much explanation, practice, and context it takes—that’s your guide.
Conclusion
Writing your OER chapter is an extension of what you already do every day: explain, clarify, and support student learning. Use your teaching voice. Stay grounded in your students’ needs. Trust your experience. You’re not just writing a chapter—you’re opening access to knowledge.
