What Can You Freely Use in Course Materials?
A resource in the public domain can be used without restriction. This includes:
- Works created for the public domain. The creator gives others free reign to reuse or mix content using a Creative Commons License.
- Most work produced by the United States Government, see the rules and exceptions here
- Works that have an expired copyright (i.e. 70 years after the creator's death, although not true for all items)
Adapted from IRSC Library OER libguide.
Librarian
What are Open Educational Resources?
Open Educational Resources (OER) are online teaching and learning resources that are available on the open web free of charge. These can be textbooks, course materials, learning modules, videos and more.
The terms "open content" and "open educational resources" describe any copyrightable work (traditionally excluding software, which is described by other terms like "open source") that is either (1) in the public domain or (2) licensed in a manner that provides everyone with free and perpetual permission to engage in the 5R activities:
- Retain - make, own, and control a copy of the resource (e.g., download and keep your own copy)
- Revise - edit, adapt, and modify your copy of the resource (e.g., translate into another language)
- Remix - combine your original or revised copy of the resource with other existing material to create something new (e.g., make a mashup)
- Reuse - use your original, revised, or remixed copy of the resource publicly (e.g., on a website, in a presentation, in a class)
- Redistribute - share copies of your original, revised, or remixed copy of the resource with others (e.g., post a copy online or give one to a friend)
Getting Started
- Open Educational Resources: Basics and BeyondOpen Educational Resources: Basics and Beyond is designed to supplement the Online Consortium of Oklahoma’s (OCO’s) OER: 101 and OER: A Deeper Dive course modules. The eight self-paced modules serve as an introduction to open educational resources (OER), as well as provide an opportunity for further exploration and discovery of OER and open education practices.
- OER Starter KitThis starter kit, created by Iowa State University, provides instructors with an introduction to the use and creation of open educational resources (OER).
Creative Commons
Creative Commons Licenses
Some materials are provided for use through open licensing or Creative Commons. There are six different types of licenses that fall under the Creative Commons licenses permitting the use of the work without having to pay licensing fees or royalties. All of the licenses require appropriate credit to the original creation.
Foter, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
