OER Usage Checklist
If you want to use an open source beyond just accessing it (posting online on a website or course, classroom use, adapting it for other purposes), carefully consider these questions:
I: How do I want to use it?
- Access – NO PERMISSIONS REQUIRED. All open sources are free for anyone to access.
- Share/Post – ATTRIBUTION STATEMENT needed. Give credit to author and include title, author, date, and license type. Include links to title, author, and license whenever possible.
- Edit/Modify and Share/Post – This is SOMETIMES permitted. If the terms allow for edits, include a “modified from the original” statement with your attribution.
- Use for commercial (profit) purposes – This is SOMETIMES permitted. Check the license to see if the material is allowed for commercial/noncommercial purposes.
II: What are the restrictions?
- Locate the licensing info on the resource or in a separate section (Terms of Use, Usage Policy).
- If the material is subject to Copyright Law, it is not an OER. Make sure you are using the material under legal guidelines (Fair Use).
- Public Domain materials are not protected by Copyright Law and "belong to everyone". Despite this, it is still best to include an Attribution Statement.
- Open Educational Resources are usually licensed under Creative Commons or GNU. Please check the specific guidelines.
III: What is (almost) always required?
- An attribution statement giving credit that includes the TITLE, AUTHOR, DATE, and LICENSE with links.
- If you modified or edited the material (changed an image, adapted a text for a class, used only part, etc.), include a MODIFICATION STATEMENT: Modified from the original.
- If there are any additional notices on the licensing agreement from the author about the usage, please include them too.
IV: Who do I contact with questions?
- For assistance, please contact the ACC Library and ask to speak with a librarian.
