2 Definitions

Learning Outcome

By the end of the chapter, learners will:

• Have a shared understanding of commonly used terms that may be used in OER data collection

OER Terminology

Clearly defining terms used in data collection helps ensure a common understanding across stakeholders, from those providing data to those using it.

When starting a data collection project it is essential to know what “counts” as far as data points to be collected. For example, some institutions will focus strictly on open educational resources that meet the 5 Rs of openness, while others will include any materials that students do not have to pay for (such as those owned by the library).

• Adaptation: use of an existing OER with modifications, for example localization. See the BCCampus Adaptation Guide.
• Adoption: use of an existing OER without significant modifications
• Ancillary materials: supplementary resources that accompany a textbook to improve student learning. Examples include linked websites or videos, presentation slides, or lecture notes.
• Creation: development of a novel OER
• Creative Commons (CC): a set of licenses that define how a work can be used. There are different levels of CC licensing, representing a spectrum of different allowed uses from CC0 (public domain) as the least restrictive to CC BY-NC-ND (no commercial use, no derivative works) as the most restrictive.
• Grant: funding available for a time-limited project
• Learning management system (LMS): software used for course delivery. Examples include Moodle and Blackboard.
• Localization: adaptation of a work to local context
• Low-cost: courses or programs with a total combined material cost. The term “Affordable Educational Resources” is sometimes also used. Many institutions use a cutoff of under $50 to define low-cost – for example Penn State.
• Open Educational Resources (OER): teaching and learning materials that are under a license allowing for their retention, reuse, revision, modification, and redistribution without cost or access barriers
• Open pedagogy: a pedagogical approach which involves students in the creation of course materials.See The Learning Portal for a more in depth discussion.
• Open textbook: a learning resource for students in a particular course designed to comprehensively address a syllabus or instructional plan
• Pressbooks: a software platform designed for the creation of open textbooks
• Public domain: materials not protected by copyright
• Repository: an online system that stores textbooks and ancillary materials for access
• Z-degree: a complete degree program with zero textbook cost to the student
• Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC): courses or programs that do not have any required materials costs for students. ZTC can be achieved through use of OER and/or library-licensed resources, or by not including a textbook at all.