This page outlines a simple process for adapting an open educational resource to your own teaching and learning needs.
Consider any modifications you may need to make to the content to ensure it is appropriate for your own course learning outcomes, assessment approaches as well as your teaching style. For example, you may wish to add, delete, re-order or re-mix the existing content.
The following is a modified list of reasons to modify an existing work that appeared in the article: Why remix an Open Educational Resource? by Liam Green-Hughes and used under a CC-BY license.
Common ways in which an existing openly licensed resource may be modified include the following:
As you find existing openly licensed content which you would like to adapt to integrate into your own course, consider the following review criteria:
TIP: Plan ahead - Pressbooks, Queen’s Open Textbook editing and publishing platform, provides a set of pre-made box features that you can use to structure your chapters (see below)
Before you begin your adaptations:
Before making any modifications review the existing textbook or resource and attempt to match all revised and new text, resources, layout and citation styles to that of the original work.
Resources:
Before making any modifications review the existing textbook or resource and attempt to match all revised and new text, resources, layout and citation styles to that of the original work.
Resources:
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) is provincial legislation created with the intent of achieving accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities by 2025, in five areas. Pertinent to educators Section 12: 'Accessible formats and communication supports', requires that:
'[E]very obligated organization shall upon request provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities'.
Resources:
The options available to you to edit and publish an existing open textbook or resource may vary depending on the platform or format in which the original item is made available.
Original Format |
Possible Editing Tools (web-based) |
Possible Editing Tools (Desktop) |
| Word or Open Office | Google Docs, PressBooks | Microsoft Word, OpenOffice |
| ePub | PressBooks | Sigil, Calibre |
| Text | Google docs, PressBooks | Word, OpenOffice |
| LaTex | ScribeTex | TeXworks, Texmaker |
| HTML | Google Docs, PressBooks, Media Wiki | Dreamweaver, MS Expression Web |
| OpenStax College | Connexions | n/a |
Copyeditors add an important element to the creation or revision of a textbook. They provide an objective set of eyes that ensures grammar and spelling are correct, the style is consistent (see Style Guide), and that the book’s language will be suitable and understandable to the students reading it.
While the basic rules of copy editing apply whether working on a traditional or open textbook, there are some key differences. When working with a copy editor or other collaborators on an open textbook, keep the following in mind:
Editorial Support
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Resources |
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Apply a Creative Commons license to re-distribute your OER. These copyright licenses provide a simple, standardized way for you to give others permission to share and use your creative work— on conditions of your choice.
Before choosing your license read considerations for licensors and licensees
Choose your license and embed the license terms into your document or web page.
Once you have adapted your version of the OER, you will need a place to put your learning resource (e.g individual learning object or complete open textbook) where your students can access it.
Here are a few of the options available to you at Queen's:
Share your OER with the wider community:
You can also consider sharing your work with the larger open community. One way to do this is by adding your adapted textbook to an established repository or open textbook collection. Some of these require undergoing a formal review before being accepted.