Evaluation Process
Here are a few steps you might take in the evaluation process. If this process seems lengthy, think about the process you follow to review textbooks and other materials for your course. You can use a similar or modified evaluation process to evaluate OER.
- Does this OER cover the content you'd like your students to learn in this course or module? Is the reading level appropriate?
- Consider the quality of the OER. Is it peer reviewed? Who are the author(s) and/or sponsoring institution? Are sources properly cited? Does it make use of sound pedagogical methods?
- How can you use the content? Verify the license that the resource is under. Can you remix or revise the OER as long as it isn't for commercial purposes? Who would you need to acknowledge if you use it?
- Once you determine how you can use the OER, what would you like to do with it? Does only a portion of it apply to your class? Would you possibly want to combine this OER with another OER or resource? Does the library have access to articles that could act as supplemental readings?
- As you collect more OER and other resources, save them in a central location. Take note of how you envision using them. Align these resources with the learning objectives on your syllabus in order to identify gaps.
Evaluation Rubrics, Checklist and Tool
*Note: Some of these evaluation tools align with the Common Core, which might not be important for classes in academia. Please investigate them to see if they fit your needs.
- Faculty Guide for Evaluating OERBC Campus's OER evaluation checklist
- Achieve's OER rubricsAchieve.org has developed eight OER rubrics as well as an evaluation tool to help users determine the degree of alignment of OER to the Common Core State Standards, and aspects of quality of OER. More OER Rubrics training materials can be found through Archieve.org website.
- iRubric: Evaluating OER rubric
Questions to ask about the OER you are thinking of using. This rubric is developed by Sarah Morehouse with help from Mark McBride, Kathleen Stone, and Beth Burns is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
- Online Equity RubricFrom Peralta Community College - covers technology access, universal design, and concern for diversity and inclusion.
Questions about Copyright?
If you have questions about copyright, it may be helpful to visit the following sites:
- Creative Commons license informationFind out about the types of licenses available under Creative Commons
- Copyright complianceUM's guide to copyright and copyright compliance
This guide adapts and reuses major portions of the University of Pittsburgh and University of Illinois libraries' OER guides, with permission.
