Develop an Open Source Lesson
Join the 2026 UC OSPO Collaborative Lesson Development Program
Help build critical open source education resources through Carpentries-trained
collaborative lesson development. Work with a team, receive expert training and mentorship,
and publish your lesson to reach learners worldwide.
SUBMIT A PROPOSAL
Program Overview
What We're Funding
Through grant support, we're funding the development of 4 new open source lessons to fill critical gaps in open source education.
Who Can Participate
Educators, researchers, practitioners, and subject matter experts from UC campuses and beyond. Teams of up to 4 people per lesson are encouraged.
Training & Support
- Carpentries collaborative lesson development training (online)
- UC OSPO mentorship and guidance
- Student developer support
- Community of practice
What You'll Gain
🎓
Professional Development
Carpentries lesson development training and hands-on experience
✍️
Publication Credit
Authorship on published lesson with DOI and citation
🏆
Recognition
UC OSPO Lesson Developer badge and community acknowledgment
🤝
Collaboration
Work with peers, build connections, share expertise
🌍
Global Impact
Reach learners worldwide through open publication
🚀
Carpentries Pathway
Potential inclusion in Carpentries Incubator and lesson programs
Identified Lesson Gaps
We've identified these high-priority topics, but we welcome creative proposals that address other critical needs.
Understanding Open Source Licensing and Compliance
Learn OSS license types, obligations, compatibility, and UC-specific policy guidance.
Audience: Faculty, researchers, students, tech transfer, legal staff | Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Introduction to Open Source (WTF is Open Source?)
Foundational resource for people new to open source - what it is, why it matters, and how to get started.
Audience: General public, students, anyone new to OSS | Level: Beginner
Evaluating OSS for Security and Institutional Use
How to vet open source tools for compliance, security, and alignment with institutional policies.
Audience: IT staff, compliance officers, researchers with sensitive data | Level: Intermediate
Governance and Sustainability in OSS Communities
Explore inclusive governance structures, sustainability models, and decision-making processes.
Audience: Community managers, PIs, project leads | Level: Intermediate
Software Engineering Best Practices for Open Source
Reproducibility principles, coding best practices, and sustainable software engineering.
Audience: Developers, researchers, contributors | Level: Intermediate
Community Development and Building
Strategies for building, growing, and sustaining healthy open source communities.
Audience: Community managers, maintainers, project leads | Level: Intermediate
Program Timeline
Q1 2026Proposal submission and review. Submit your proposal via GitHub.
UC OSPO team reviews all submissions and selects 4 lessons based on impact, need, and team readiness.
Q2 2026Carpentries training begins. Selected teams participate in online
collaborative lesson development training led by certified Carpentries instructors.
Q3-Q4 2026Lesson development. Teams develop lessons collaboratively with UC OSPO
mentorship, student developer support, and peer feedback.
End 2026Publication and launch. Completed lessons published on UC OSPO Education
site, promoted to the community, and submitted to Carpentries Incubator where appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have a complete team to apply?
No! You can apply as an individual, partial team, or complete team. We can help match
individuals with complementary expertise and interests to form teams.
What if my topic idea isn't on the identified gaps list?
We welcome creative proposals! The gaps list represents known needs, but we're open to
proposals that address other critical areas in open source education. Make a strong case
for why your topic matters in your proposal.
How much time commitment is required?
Expect to commit approximately 5-10 hours per week during training (Q2 2026) and 3-8 hours
per week during development (Q3-Q4 2026). The workload is distributed across your team.
Do I need prior experience developing lessons?
No prior lesson development experience required! That's what the Carpentries training is for.
You need subject matter expertise and a commitment to learn collaborative lesson development practices.
What license will the lessons use?
Lessons will be published under an open license (typically CC-BY 4.0), allowing anyone to
use, adapt, and share the materials with attribution to the authors.
Can people outside UC participate?
Yes! While the program is led by UC OSPO, we welcome proposals from educators and subject
matter experts at other institutions who share our commitment to open source education.
What happens if my proposal isn't selected?
We'll provide feedback and may invite you to participate in future cohorts. You're also
welcome to develop lessons independently - we can still connect you with resources and community.
Who owns the intellectual property of the lesson?
Authors retain copyright to their work. By participating, you agree to license your lesson
openly (CC-BY or similar) so it can be freely used and adapted by the community.
Ready to Make an Impact?
Submit your lesson proposal and help build the future of open source education.
SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL
Questions? Contact Tim Dennis or open a discussion on GitHub.
