OER Licensing

As you venture into using more and more OER in your courses, earning more about OER and how to use them effectively becomes more important. This video covers the basics of OER licensing, including the different types of open licenses, the rights and responsibilities associated with remixing and redistributing OER, and how to apply OER licensing concepts to real-world scenarios. Additionally, you will see how LibreTexts helps you to manage and cite sources as appropriate on a paragraph-by-paragraph level.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Define OER and understand the key principles.
  2. Explain the difference between open licensing and public domain.
  3. Identify and describe the different types of Creative Commons licenses.
  4. Understand the rights and responsibilities associated with remixing and redistributing OER.
  5. Apply OER licensing concepts to real-world scenarios.

Video Outline

  1. Introduction to Open Educational Resources (OER)
  2. Defining OER
  3. Open Licensing
  4. Public Domain
  5. Creative Commons Licenses
  6. Remixing and Redistribution
  7. Practical Application of OER Licensing
  8. Conclusion

Summary

Open Educational Resources (OER) are freely available educational materials that can be used, adapted, and shared by anyone. OER are licensed under an open license, which allows for the free use, adaptation, and distribution of the materials. There are several different types of open licenses, including Creative Commons licenses. Creative Commons licenses are a family of copyright licenses that allow creators to grant certain rights to others while retaining ownership of their work.

There are four main types of Creative Commons licenses:

  • Attribution (BY): This license requires that users attribute the original creator of the work.
  • NonCommercial (NC): This license prohibits the use of the work for commercial purposes.
  • NoDerivatives (ND): This license prohibits the modification or adaptation of the work.
  • ShareAlike (SA): This license requires that any derivative works created from the original work be licensed under the same or a compatible license.

OER can be remixed and redistributed, as long as the original creator is attributed and the terms of the license are followed. Remixing is the process of combining or modifying existing OER to create new materials. Redistribution is the process of sharing OER with others.

The video stresses the importance of open licensing for faculty building educational resources. It emphasizes that open licensing allows for broader access and use of materials, promotes collaboration and innovation, and aligns with the core principles of open education. By understanding and utilizing open licensing, faculty can ensure that their educational resources are freely available, adaptable, and reusable by others, fostering a more equitable and inclusive learning environment.

You can find information about licensing of materials on LibreTexts in a few ways:

  • Individual Pages: Each page on LibreTexts has a license associated with it. This license is usually displayed at the bottom of the page.
  • Book Level: Books on LibreTexts also have a license associated with them. This license is usually displayed on the book's landing page.
  • Licensing Information Page: LibreTexts has a dedicated page that provides information about licensing. This page can be found at https://libretexts.org/about/licensing/.
  • Auto Attribution Feature: LibreTexts' Auto Attribution feature allows users to see the license information for any content they copy and paste from the platform.

OER licensing can be a complex topic, but it is important to understand the basics in order to use OER effectively. By following the terms of the license, you can help to ensure that OER are freely available and accessible to all.

Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful: