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Open textbooks and examples
As a form of OER, open textbooks are completely digitized textbooks that are accessible online at no cost, and also available in affordable-to-purchase printed copies. The open content can be revised, reused, often remixed and customized under an open license that permits the authors to retain ownership of their content, yet establish the rights under which the content may be used by others. In short, open textbooks can be distinguished in the following aspects:
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They are freely available for use and adaptation by anyone using the OER site. |
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They invariably consist of digital material. Content can be delivered in many formats, including web, audio, pdf, e-reader and print versions. |
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They are coherent in content and are aligned with particular curricular guidelines and standards, and can be customized to meet individual needs. |
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Their copyright is governed by an open license which clearly states a list of permissions by the author. |
Generally, the minimum baseline rights allow users to, at least:
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Use the textbook without compensating the author; |
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Copy the textbook, with appropriate credit to the author; |
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Distribute the textbook non-commercially; and |
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Shift the textbook into another format (such as digital or print). |
There are various open licenses. One popular example is Creative Commons. Under a Creative Commons license, authors can further grant users the rights to:
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Add, remove or alter content in the textbook, often on the condition that derivative works must have the same license; |
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Copy and distribute the textbook without giving credit to the author; and |
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Use the textbook commercially. |
Examples of open textbooks and OER projects
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