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Open content is typically digital content that allows broader use than traditionally printed or copyrighted content. Open content is freed up content, for instance through permissive licensing, such as Creative Commons. Open content includes open educational resources (OER), OpenCourseWare (OCW), open video, open access publications, as well as open data. It shares some similarity with open source software. Open content can have different freedoms, such as legal freedom, technological freedom (including usability and accessibility), as well as freedom in terms of education and participation, related to inclusion and interactive pedagogy. More broadly open content is related to open education and open educational practices. Although open content can be traced back further, the movement developed particularly rapidly in the 2000s, with major education and research stakeholders publishing open content and adopting policies promoting open content and open research practices. This entry reviews the origins of open content, and discusses different aspects of “open.” Two specific areas are highlighted: first, open content in higher education, including open textbooks, massively open online courses, open video, and research on open content, pointing to cost savings; second, open educational resources in Africa through recent developments and success stories, particularly in the context of OER Africa.

DOI: 10.1002/9781118767771.wbiedcs154 shortDOI: 10/ghgnfs