Open Educational Resources: Adopting OER

Critically evaluate a resource before adopting it.  Make sure the resource is right for your purpose.

Quality:

• Peer Review available or used.
• The reputation of the author/institution is transparent.
• Pedagogical methods are sound.
• Allows for customization or refinement.

Appropriateness:

• The content is accurate.
• Sources are identified and cited.
• Some alignment with a learning outcome or course objective.
• The appropriate reading level for your students.

Technical:

• High technical quality (clear visuals, high production value).
• Clear licensing declaration (Creative Commons License present, in the Public Domain, etc.).
• Licensed to remix or share again.

OER Evaluation Checklist, Sarah Crissinger, CC BY 4.0

Once you have found an OER that you would like to use in your course: 

1. Consider the permissions granted to you by the CC license provided on the OER.
2. If the CC license allows, you may want to customize/edit the work. If you do customize/edit, what CC license will you put on the new work?
3. Be sure to meet the original work's requirements for proper attribution.
4. Consider who at Liberty University needs to be made aware of or approve your choice (SME/Department Dean, etc.).
5. Let the library know by emailing scholarlycommunications@liberty.edu so we can celebrate and support your choice.
6. Consider how students will have access to the work. There are many benefits to having your OER hosted in Scholars Crossing. 

Search several OER repositories at one time using our custom Google Search tool.