17.1 OER Definitions

Module Definitions 

Here are some key definitions that will be referenced in this module. 

Accessibility

Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" something. The concept of accessible design and practice of accessible development ensures both "direct access" (i.e. unassisted) and "indirect access" meaning compatibility with a person's assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers). 

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Backward Design

A model for designing instructional materials where the instructor or designer begins the design process with a focus on the desired results (i.e., the outcome) of instruction. (Source: Learning-Theories.com)

 

Copyright

A set of intellectual property laws that give the rightsholder of a work (usually the author) exclusive rights over the reproduction, reuse, remixing, display, performance, and redistribution of their work.

Course
Learning Outcomes

The final outcomes that an instructor expects their students to gain by the time the students complete a course.

Open Access

A model by which content creators make their scholarly outputs free to access without cost to users. This can be done either by publishing content with an OA publisher or by sharing a copy of the content on an open repository.

Open Textbook

An openly licensed and free to access textbook; an OER meant to be used as a textbook for a course.

 

Universal Design
for Learning

A framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on the concept that, by providing multiple ways of engaging with content, the diverse educational needs of learners can be met.