Here are three reliable ways to find OERs:

1. Repositories: Repositories are curated collections of open resources, making them a great place to start. For example, MERLOT II repository, allows you to search for OERs by entering a textbook’s ISBN, helping you find materials that match your existing content. MERLOT can locate open courses, journal articles, texts, and other learning materials that are comparable to a textbook. Other popular repositories include OER Commons, which offer a wide variety of resources.
2. Search engines: If repositories don’t provide the materials you need, you can also try using a general search engine with advanced filters. For example, a Google Advanced Search offers options for searching materials with certain usage rights. With these filters, you can tailor your results to show only materials that are free to use, share, or modify. However, search engines are not perfect, so make sure to verify the license before including a resource in your course.
3. Library collections: Although the materials in your institution’s library may not technically be OERs, library collections are typically free for you and students to access because the library has already purchased access to this digital content. Libraries give you access to databases, journals, and catalogues that you can use to build your course without additional costs to students.

Many campus librarians can also speak with you about available OER content through campus subscriptions, so be sure to partner with them during your search!

Finding an OER is just the beginning. Just like selecting paid resources for your course, you need to evaluate the OER for quality and ensure it meets your course standards.

Here are six criteria to help you assess any OER:

• Scope: Does the resource cover the topic thoroughly? Is it peer-reviewed or well-referenced?
• Authority: Is the author reputable, and is the content hosted on a trustworthy site?
• Reliability: Is the content recent and regularly updated?
• Licensing: What kind of open license does the resource have, and does it fit your intended use?
• Accuracy: Does the content align with your course objectives and other materials?
• Professionalism: Is the resource well-organized, with quality visuals and a user-friendly layout?

For additional resources on evaluating OERs, check out these great OER evaluation rubrics:

• Achieve rubrics for evaluating OER objectives
• Achieve OER evaluation tool handbook
• IRubric: Evaluating OER rubric, developed by Sarah Morehouse, Mark McBride, Kathleen Stone, and Beth Burns. CC attribution.

Unless they’re in the public domain, OERs are protected under copyright law just like any other work of intellectual property. However, OERs have open licenses, which are licenses whose goal is to make copyrighted works more widely available without the expectation of payment. Many OERs have licenses from Creative Commons, a nonprofit organization that has created easy-to-understand open licenses that explain exactly how you’re allowed to use others’ works.

If you comply with the simple terms of the license, then you are welcome to use the work. If you’re unable to comply with the terms of a license for any reason, you must either not use the work or use only a small portion in compliance with fair use standards.

Types of Creative Commons licenses

Creative Commons is a global nonprofit organization that gives content users the ability to share and reuse content legally and for free. The Creative Commons website contains excellent in-depth information on all types of licenses they offer. Here is a short list of licenses you may see as you search for OER content. These licenses tell you and other content users what you can do with the work.

• Copy & publish: You can redistribute (copy, publish, display, communicate, etc.).
• Attribution required: You have to attribute the original work.
• Commercial use: You can use the work commercially.
• Modify & adapt: You can modify and adapt the original work.
• Change license: You can choose the license type for your adaptations of the work.

Now that you’ve evaluated a variety of OER materials, it’s time to select the best option for you and your students. Using the selection criteria below can help you rate and evaluate a selection of resources. Not all criteria will apply in every case, but the criteria can serve as a general framework for the evaluation and selection process. Depending on the subject or course material you already have or what you are seeking, one or more of these criteria may be more important or have greater priority.