In most instances, a user has enormous latitude to adapt Open Educational Resources (OER) or open textbooks to suit contextual needs where the licence allows adaptation. If, however, the licence restricts adaptation (as, for example, the Creative Commons licence with a ‘No Derivatives’ restriction does), others may not alter the resource in any way.
It has to be used ‘as is’. This right is not reserved often in OER.
The vast majority of published OER welcome users to adapt the original resource. Common ways in which OER can be changed include the following:
- Mixing: A number of OER are mixed together and additional content is added to create an altogether new resource. This is common when course designers need to develop materials and resources to match a local curriculum or programme. A common concern is that it is rare to find existing OER that fit perfectly ‘as is’.
- Adaption: This occurs when one OER is used and multiple adaptations are developed to suit multiple contexts. It could be that the language is translated into others but usually adaptation requires local case studies/examples to be added to make the materials relevant to students in a particular context.
- Asset extraction: It is also possible to extract only some of the assets of a resource or course and use them in a completely different context. This is especially.