Lumen Learning vs TESSA OER

Lumen Learning develops digital courseware and faculty professional development resources for higher education. Its course materials replace textbooks with interactive text, video, simulations, practice questions, updated content, and mobile-friendly access. The catalog covers more than 50 subjects, with a focus on introductory, general education, and developmental courses. Lumen One offers personalized study plans, immediate feedback, student-faculty connection tools, a peer community, and teaching-practice tips. Courseware can be customized after delivery into Canvas, Blackboard Learn, D2L Brightspace, or Moodle and adjusted for different term lengths. Mobile access works through common browsers on iOS and Android without an app. Static courseware text and images are open educational resources. The course support fee is $35/term. Additional options include professional development priced per seat.

TESSA OER is a free education research and development project founded in 2005 that works with partners to support primary and secondary teachers across sub-Saharan Africa. Its open educational resources are linked to national curricula and offered in multiple language and country versions. The collection contains 90 subject-based modules: 75 structured primary units and 15 secondary units. Modules provide practical activities, case examples, classroom materials, and guidance on teaching strategies for engaging learners. Handbooks and toolkits support teachers and teacher educators, while the materials cover professional learning from initial teacher education through continuing development. A shared space lets teachers and teacher educators exchange adaptations. Published under an open Creative Commons licence, the resources are free to use, adapt, and share. Materials are available online and offline in digital and printed formats. Teachers may use them independently or integrate them into pre-service and in-service training programmes.