OER Glossary

A set of fundamental rights attached to all openly licensed content: retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute.

To modify an original work so that the work serves a new use or purpose; for example, a novel may be adapted into a screenplay or a programmer may adapt (modify) software so that it functions in a different way. The copyright applied to the work determines whether or not adaptation is permitted.

Modifying or customising openly-licensed materials to better fit the specific needs of a particular audience, context, or educational purpose.

The act of actively supporting, promoting, or arguing for a cause, policy, or group. Involves efforts to influence decisions, raise awareness, and mobilise resources to address specific issues or needs.

The simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems

Androgogy refers to methods and principles used in adult education and is used to distinguish the concepts being discussed from pedagogy, which is about child education.

A statement that ascribes a work to its artist, author, or creator and that specifies the rights or licensing terms for lawful use of the content by others. Attributions generally include the title of content (linked to the original source); the named author, creator, owner, and/or copyright holder; if applicable, a Creative Commons licence type and version (linked to the licence) or other licence type; and, if applicable, a copyright symbol with date and copyright holder.

The OEP SIG is a cross-institutional, practice-led, evidence-based community of Australasian higher education practitioners, sponsored by ASCILITE. The SIG offers value to the sector by providing a space for practice- and experience-sharing, open discussion, professional learning, and access to free and open resources. Find out more here: https://oepoz.wordpress.com/

An evaluation method that asks learners to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world or realistic contexts, rather than through traditional tests or exams. It emphasises practical, meaningful tasks that allow learners to demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving abilities.

Cultural responsiveness is a transformative approach that describes the knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and actions required to appropriately respond to diverse cultural preferences, aspirations, and needs. It is what is needed to transform systems; how individuals work to deliver and maintain culturally safe and effective practice. It must incorporate knowledge (knowing), self-knowledge and behaviour (being) and action (doing), which makes it innately transformative.

Indigenous Allied Health Australia (2019)

Cultural safety for First Nations peoples requires an analysis of power relations to create an environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples report that:

• their experiences are believed and validated
• their cultures are centred and valued in policy development, research, evaluation
and service design and delivery
• they feel welcomed and respected in policy, research, evaluation and service
environments
• they see other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in the policy,
research, evaluation or service context
• they do not experience any form of racism in policy, research, evaluation and service
contexts or processes

(Mohamed et al 2024)

A cultural interface where respectful co-leadership can create overlapping spaces to join up synergies between both First Nations and Western knowledges. This space is not about the dominance of one system over the other but about the coexistence and negotiation between them in a safe and inclusive space.

Nakata (2002)

Dudgeon and Fielder (2006)

A derivative work is one which has been adapted from an original work or remixed from many works. It may also be a derivative of a derivative work. The term "derivative" signals that this work is not the original. It is good practice to indicate in an attribution how the original work was changed in the derivative.

The principle of fairness and justice in the distribution of resources, opportunities, and treatment among individuals or groups. In practice, equity involves access, opportunity, and support.

A subset of artificial intelligence that focuses on creating new content, such as text, images, videos, audio, and even code, in response to specific prompts

The practice of creating environments, systems, and communities that welcome, respect, and value diverse individuals and groups. Key aspects are diversity, accessibility, engagement, respect & representation, and support.

An open education program which works with teaching staff to develop themselves into open practitioners by using OER to engage in open educational practices. Based at La Trobe University and hosted by the Library.

A learning approach that delivers educational content in small, focused, and easily digestible units, typically lasting a few minutes. Often used in corporate training, language learning, and skill development where learners benefit from short, targeted instruction.

The open educational practices (OEP) special interest group of ASCILITE (which is a community of professionals and academics working in fields associated with enhancing learning and teaching through the pedagogical use of technologies).

Learning and teaching practices that are made possible (or practical) in the context of OER because of permission to engage in the 5R activities: Retain, Reuse, Revise, Remix, and Redistribute. This term is deliberately as broadly meaningful as possible to the widest range of open practitioners.

The free and unrestricted availability of scholarly research, learning and teaching materials, and related outputs published under licenses that allow users to not only access the content freely but also adapt, modify, and redistribute it

An educational philosophy and movement that promotes accessibility, inclusivity, and collaborative learning, aiming to remove barriers to education for all learners. Encompasses a broad range of concepts and practices that go beyond just open educational resources (OER) and open educational practices (OEP).

Teaching techniques and academic practices that draw on open technologies, pedagogical approaches and open educational resources (OER) to facilitate collaborative and flexible learning

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or are under copyright that have been released under an open license, that permit no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, adaptation and redistribution by others.

A series of practices which involve engaging students in a course through the development, adaptation, or use of open educational resources

An educator or professional who actively engages in the use, creation, and promotion of open resources and practices to enhance teaching and learning

A collaborative approach to research, education, and knowledge dissemination that emphasizes accessibility, transparency, and inclusivity. It aims to democratise knowledge production and sharing.

A deeper level of self-examination than reflective practice, focusing on the practitioner’s own biases, assumptions, and influence on their work in order to develop a more nuanced and ethical approach to their work

Remixing OER involves adapting or combining the content of more than one existing OER. Remixing includes considering whether the licences on the existing OER are compatible.

Renewable assignments are a type of authentic assessment that can engage students with online learning and enhance their graduate employability.

Systematic inquiry into teaching practices and student learning, with the aim of improving educational outcomes by actively researching, reflecting on, and sharing innovative teaching practice.

Educational materials created by students as part of their learning process, which are then openly licensed and shared for others to use, adapt, and distribute

The practice of meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

A unique area where academic and professional domains intersect, creating a collaborative environment that transcends traditional university boundaries and silos. These ways of working help to address complex challenges in higher education through integrated practice and the development of new perspectives.

The web address of an online resource shown at the top of the browser, usually beginning "https://".

Version histories record the details of incremental changes in an OER. They are often included as a separate page towards the end of a resource and are an effective way of ensuring readers are aware of any updates or corrections to a resource. Version histories are different from entirely new editions of a resource. Each edition may have its own incremental version history.

Instances in which textbooks are available to students at no cost

Programs or courses for which students do not incur any costs for purchasing course materials