Session 4: Open Educational Resources & Copyright
To do this session
✓ Complete the required readings of linked resources, videos and websites and explore the recommended reading resources
✓ Complete the Copyright and Creative Commons Activity
✓ Search the repository for an open resource that is relevant or interesting to you
✓ Begin to evaluate your OER using the provided rubric criteria
Session Introduction
As you may have noticed, there was no textbook you had to purchase for this course. Many of the readings are available as creative commons licensed open educational resources and the assessments were designed with the intention of them being authentic, useful, and shareable. This intention stems from the influence the open education movement has had on higher education in Ontario. As you will read in the articles and by watching Dr. Jhangiani’s keynote address from December 2017, the open education movement is about more than just cost. There are social justice elements, issues around equity and access, and pedagogical considerations. This session we will look at how and why we could (or couldn’t), should (or shouldn’t) incorporate open educational practices into our own teaching and learning.
For a quick overview of OER efficacy, watch this 5 minute A Review of the Effectiveness & Perceptions of Open Educational Resources As Compared to Textbooks embedded below.
The quiz this week will be based on Ontario Extend. (2017) Comparing Creative Commons with Copyright. https://extend.ecampusontario.ca/curator-creative-commons-copyright/ so take a moment to explore that short module.
Then spend some time searching through the eCampusOntario Open Text Library to find an interesting discipline-relevant textbook for you to critique and review. If you can’t find anything appropriate, continue on to the CampusOntario’s (2020) Spotlight on OER repositories to see the vast number of OERs available. You are not expected to review the whole book. One or two chapters will suffice.
Your OER Critique assignment asks you to select an OER relevant or interesting to you.
The criteria for the OER review is as follows:
- Production Quality: Consider font, audio quality, video quality, visually pleasant.
- Format Choice: Was the choice of presentation medium (e.g., video, problem set, text, etc.) a good choice?
- Production Quality: Consider font, audio quality, video quality, visually pleasant.
- Revise-Remix-ability: Are you able to download (or copy/paste) and edit / modify the content? Consider technical and licensing permissions.
- Helpfulness: Does it explain the material in a way that will help you to better understand it?
- Accuracy: Is the information presented correct?
- Engaging: Is the resource interesting?
- Originality/Novelty: Is the material presented differently than you’ve seen it before?
- Relevance: Is the resource relevant to the topics covered in the course?
You will be asked to evaluated the OER quantitatively (on a scale of 1-5, where 5 is excellent and 1 is poor) and qualitatively to comment on why you made this selection. If you would like a template for your evaluation, download the Open Educational Resources Evaluation Rubric and fill in the sections. This document is also available on the Course Materials page. The rubric is based upon the work of Evelyn, S. & Kromer, J (2019) which is included in the readings list as an optional reading if you would like to see how you can use OER evaluation as a tool for open pedagogy. Dr. Jhiangiani’s keynote addresses Open Pedagogy and how it can transform assessment, which we will revisit in future sessions.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session you should be able to:
- identify course materials released under a creative commons license;
- describe the variety of creative commons licenses;
- search various online open repositories for open resources; and
- describe criteria to evaluate OER.
Rationale
There is a wealth of open online resources available for reuse.
Connection to Theory
Open pedagogy is an emerging field that is rooted in fundamental beliefs about access, democracy, and affordability.
Connection to Practice
Leveraging the bounty of resources already created can save time, build community, and increase quality.
Session Resources
- Evelyn, S. & Kromer, J (2019). Collaborating with Students to Find and Evaluate Open Educational Resources in Engineering.
- Ontario Extend. (2020) Comparing Creative Commons with Copyright.
- Ontario Extend (2020). Spotlight on Repositories.
Learning Activities
Quiz
Reflection
- What resonated most with you from Dr. Jhiangiani’s keynote / Open Pedagogy reading?
- What surprised you?
- Did you disagree with anything?
- How does this relate to your experience as a student? as a teacher?
- Briefly describe the OER you were able to find to start to generate your OER critique and review.
Bridge to Next Session
Next session we will explore the importance of accessibility in resource creation and selection.