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Open Educational Resources (OERs)

An introduction to sharable, free, remixable textbooks, modules, and other resources

Principles - "The Five Rs"

Within the bounds of Creative Commons licensing, there are 5 key points to consider when using OERs:

  1. Reuse - Content can be reused in its unaltered original format - the right to use the content in a wide range of ways (e.g., in a class, in a study group, on a website, in a video)
  2. Retain - Copies of content can be retained for personal archives or reference - the right to make, own, and control copies of the content (e.g., download, duplicate, store, and manage)
  3. Revise - Content can be modified or altered to suit specific needs - the right to adapt, adjust, modify, or alter the content itself (e.g., translate the content into another language)
  4. Remix - Content can be adapted with other similar content to create something new- the right to combine the original or revised content with other material to create something new (e.g., incorporate the content into a mashup)
  5. Redistribute - Content can be shared with anyone else in its original or altered format - the right to share copies of the original content, your revisions, or your remixes with others (e.g., give a copy of the content to a friend)

[https://nsufl.libguides.com/oer/5rs]

Shareable Licences from Creative Commons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In order to choose a work for adaptation, you must confirm that it is covered by a license that allows such editing and distribution. Licenses are permissions given by the copyright holder for use of their content. Copyright is still held by the creator in these cases, but the creator has decided to allow others to use their work. Sometimes licenses are purchased and sometimes they are given freely. They can be applied to allow reuse, redistribution, derivative works, and commercial use. Creative Commons are the most popular licenses in OER authoring.

Creative Commons (CC) is a non-profit organization devoted to expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share. The organization has released several copyright-licenses to the public free of charge. These licenses allow creators to communicate which rights they reserve and which rights they waive for the benefit of recipients or other creators. Creative Commons is the most frequently used and accessible free licensing scheme, but there are others that are used by certain communities. Licenses can also be applied by commercial entities that own the copyright to an item such as a journal article. These licenses generally spell out limited usage for users and are available for a fee.