Skip to Main Content

OERs: Open Educational Resources

Evaluation

It may sound obvious, but any OER should be evaluated before use or re-use. Think about its content quality, tech currency, accuracy, audience and UDL fit. Rubrics can also help with this process.  In more detail this can be outlined as:

Scope: Content is (a) peer reviewed or contains appropriate references to verifiable resources, (b) original or from a primary source (which you can locate and use instead), and (c) aligned to the course’s learning objectives.
Authority: The publisher is known and respected among professionals, the author is an expert in the field, the host site is reputable, and the content is unbiased.
Reliability: The content (a) was published recently or contemporary to the discovery of the information, (b) is highly trafficked or referenced, and (c) is located on a stable URL (e.g., on the institution’s own servers, on a library or government archive site, on the site of a repository or organization that has a long track record).
Licensing: Content is published under a flexible and easy-to-meet licensing requirement (e.g.,a Creative Commons / CC license).
Accuracy: Content is thoroughly documented, is updated frequently, and aligns with the course’s other materials and objectives.
Professionalism: Content has quality graphics, no broken links, complementary color schemes, and an uncluttered layout. Content does not require any kind of registration to access.
                                                                                                                             From: https://ctl.wiley.com/how-to-find-quality-open-educational-resources-oers

Evaluation rubric example

Rubric I. Degree of Alignment to Standards

Rubric II. Quality of Explanation of the Subject Matter

Rubric IIIR. Utility of Materials Designed to Support Teaching

Rubric IV. Quality of Assessment

Rubric V. Quality of Technological Interactivity

Rubric VI. Quality of Instructional and Practice Exercises Rubric VII. Opportunities for Deeper Learning

Rubric VIII. Assurance of Accessibility

                                                                                              From: https://www.achieve.org/publications/achieve-oer-rubrics