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OER - Open Educational Resources

Research, explore, and learn how to use OER materials for instruction and learning.

A Brief Guide to Using OER

Adapting and adopting OER for a course can be an overwhelming experience. Below are suggested steps to help prepare for use of OER in the classroom. For detailed help on the process, please check out Faculty Support from the navigation menu. 

Step 1: Schedule Time

Give yourself time to explore OER.

Research, evaluation and adoption or modification of OER require investment of time, patience, and persistence. With numerous OER available, this process can be daunting at first, especially for those new to using OER. Allocating time to explore OER is consequently a crucial first step in managing expectations and progress.

Step 2: Get Familiar with Copyright

Understand the usage permissions granted under copyright and Creative Commons licensing.

Select Copyright & Creative Commons from the navigation menu to learn more details about how OER grant permission without risk of potential copyright infringement. 

Step 3: Review SLOs

Focus on what you want students to know or be able to do before you begin searching for materials.

Starting from your SLOs can help you identify multiple different topics or components of your class, which will likely require several different materials. Accordingly, identifying these early on will make your search for OER more efficient and effective. This Backwards Design approach further encourages student-centered, outcome-driven course design, allowing more accurate identification and alignment of learning objectives with course content.

Step 4: Search for OER

Use OER repositories to find the materials you need. 

Select Find OER from the navigation menu to search OER repositories and search engines. These resources are comprised of a curated list compiled by a Compton College librarian and the OER Committee. You can further supplement your research by looking for additional open resources using an Internet search engine.

Step 5: Evaluate OER

Compare and assess OER content to identify the highest quality materials relevant to your needs.

Select Evaluate OER from the navigation menu for more information, including rubrics and guidelines to help you get started with your evaluation process.

Step 6: Test OER

Start small by using just one OER in your class: an in-class activity, assignment, or other small class component.

Using a single smaller course component will help you test the fit of the resource before committing to continued use; though we may evaluate a resource exhaustively before use, what may seem great in theory can perform very differently in the classroom! 

Step 7: Adapt/Adopt OER

Custom modify OER or adopt OER as is for implementation in your course.

Select Adapt/Adopt OER from the navigation menu to see the suggested steps for adopting or modifying OER. For in-depth help and guidance with adoption or adaption of OER, select Faculty Support to get contact information for the OER Committee.