Education
Resources for Educators
Quality-vetted open source lessons ready to integrate into your courses, workshops, or training programs.
Why Use UC OSPO Education Resources?
Quality Vetted
All lessons are curated and reviewed by the UC Open Source Program Office network, ensuring accuracy and pedagogical soundness.
Structured Pathways
Lessons are organized into six learning pathways, from getting started with open source to strategic practices and career development.
Free & Open
All resources are freely available under open licenses. You can use, adapt, and remix them for your teaching needs.
Ready to Use
Lessons include learning objectives, descriptions, and skill levels. Many have associated materials and can be used as-is or adapted.
Diverse Topics
Cover everything from technical contributions to licensing, governance, community building, and sustainable practices.
UC-Vetted
Supported by the University of California Open Source Program Office network, ensuring high-quality curation across the UC system.
🚀 Curated Learning Tracks
Ready-to-use sequences for common teaching scenarios.
The 3-Hour Contributor Kickstart
Perfect for a library workshop, lab session, or research staff training.
- 🔗 Introduction to Git
- 🔗 Making Good Pull Requests
- 🔗 Social Coding & Open Source Collaboration
OSS Compliance & Ethics
A module for CS Ethics, Law & Tech, or Data Management workshops.
- 🔗 Understanding Software Licensing
- 🔗 Building Community
- 🔗 Leadership and Governance
📝 Curriculum Snippet (Markdown)
Copy this fragment directly into your syllabus, workshop site, or Canvas page.
How Instructors Use These Resources
🎓 Workshops & Courses
Integrate lessons into computer science courses, library workshops, or research staff training. Use pathways as modular units or supplement existing curriculum.
Example: "Contributing to a Project" pathway for a lab session on collaborative development
🛠️ Workshops & Training
Design hands-on workshops for students, staff, or community members. Lessons work well for 50-minute sessions, half-day workshops, or multi-day programs.
Example: "Understanding Licensing & Compliance" for tech transfer professionals
📖 Self-Paced Learning
Assign lessons as homework, asynchronous learning modules, or supplementary reading. Students can work through pathways independently.
Example: Assign "Getting Started with Open Source" as pre-course preparation
🏫 Bootcamps & Cohorts
Structure intensive learning programs using pathway sequences. Perfect for coding bootcamps, internship programs, or professional development cohorts.
Example: Complete pathway progression for a summer open source internship program
Quick Start Guide
Get Started in 5 Steps
- Browse the pathways to understand the topic areas and lesson structure. Each pathway focuses on a specific aspect of open source participation.
- Explore lessons within relevant pathways. Check learning objectives, skill levels, and descriptions to find lessons that fit your needs.
- Review lesson metadata including educational level (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced), estimated time, and prerequisites.
- Integrate into your course by linking directly to lessons, downloading materials (where available), or adapting content to your teaching context.
- Share feedback with the UC OSPO team. Let us know what works, what's missing, or suggest new lessons through our proposal process.
📋 Lesson Information Includes:
- Learning Objectives: What students will be able to do
- Description: Overview of lesson content and approach
- Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced
- OSS Role: Contributor, Maintainer, Community Manager, etc.
- Pathway: Which structured learning pathway it belongs to
- External Link: Access to the full lesson content
Licensing & Attribution
Can I Adapt These Lessons?
Yes! Lessons are linked from external sources with open licenses (typically CC-BY or similar). Check each lesson's license for specific terms, but most allow adaptation and remixing with attribution.
How Do I Attribute?
Provide attribution to the original lesson creator (listed in lesson metadata) and link back to the UC OSPO Education site as the curated source.
Can I Share With Colleagues?
Absolutely! Share pathway links, individual lesson links, or the entire site with fellow educators. We encourage broad use of these resources.
Teaching Tips by Pathway
Getting Started with Open Source
Best for: Introductory courses, first-day workshops, pre-program preparation
Tip: Start here for students with no OSS background. These lessons build foundational understanding.
Contributing to a Project
Best for: Hands-on labs, collaborative assignments, practicum courses
Tip: Pair lessons with real contribution exercises. Have students practice on actual OSS projects.
Maintaining & Sustaining Software
Best for: Advanced courses, project management, software engineering principles
Tip: Great for students transitioning from contributors to maintainers or project leads.
Building Inclusive Communities
Best for: Ethics courses, community management, professional skills development
Tip: Encourage discussion and reflection. These topics benefit from collaborative learning.
Understanding Licensing & Compliance
Best for: Law & technology courses, research compliance, tech transfer training
Tip: Use real-world examples. Have students analyze licenses for projects they use.
Strategic Practices & Career Development
Best for: Career preparation, professional development, senior capstones
Tip: Connect to internship preparation and job search strategies. Invite OSS practitioners as guest speakers.
💡 Need Help Getting Started?
We're here to support educators using these resources. If you have questions about integrating lessons into your course, need help finding specific content, or want to collaborate on new lesson development, please reach out!
Ready to Explore?
Start browsing curated open source education resources
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