Licenses as a Legal Basis for the Use of Internet Resources in the Educational Process

Abstract

Currently, blended learning is becoming a promising form of higher education organization. This implies an increase in the volume of author's electronic educational and methodological content used in the educational process, for the creation of which teachers use software hosted on websites and third-party digital materials: presentations, texts, drawings and video materials. In this regard, the article discusses free and open licenses as the legal basis for using the resources of the global Internet in the educational process. To determine the degree of teachers’ awareness an anonymous survey was conducted. The survey included 76 teachers of all age groups; most of them have more than 5 years of university work experience. The results revealed that more than half of the teachers believe that any software and all third-party digital materials posted on the global Internet have open access and can be freely used, modified and distributed. The novelty of the study is determined by the fact that the awareness of teachers in this area is being investigated. The practical significance is determined by the fact that the legitimate use of software and third-party digital materials posted on the Internet can improve the quality of author's electronic educational and methodological content.