Discovering and Evaluating OERs
OER, Open Educational Resources, are teaching, learning and research materials which are licensed to permit no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, adaptation, and redistribution by others. OER are therefore sustainable and accessible anywhere, to anyone, for free.
Discovering OERs
There are a variety of databases and repositories from which to find OER suited to different topics. Below is a list of widely-used and well populated databases which should provide a good starting point for your OER search.
This OER index provides a selection of recent, high quality OER of varying content types (including articles, podcasts, presentations and textbooks), which are potentially relevant to TUS and RUN EU staff and students.
Openly Available Sources Integrated Search (OASIS) is a search tool that aims to make the discovery of open content easier. OASIS currently searches open content from 132 different sources and contains 447,775 records.
OASIS is being developed at SUNY Geneseo’s Milne Library.
OER Commons is a digital library of OERs where educators can find, create and collaborate on free educational materials.
(Multimedia Education Resource for Learning and Online Teaching) is a curated collection of free and open online teaching, learning, and faculty development services
Evaluating OERs
OERs should be assessed for content in the same way one would asses any resource; Check content for accuracy, relevance to the curriculum and alignment with learning outcome. Also check licensing and accessibility.
More information on finding and evaluating OERs can be found here https://open.teachingandlearning.ie/finding-and-evaluating-oer/