How do you ensure the quality and credibility of open educational resources?

1 Check the source

One of the first things to look for when choosing OER is the source of the material. Who created it, and what are their credentials and affiliations? Is the material peer-reviewed, endorsed, or accredited by a reputable organization or institution? Is the material up to date and relevant to your context and goals? You can use tools such as Creative Commons Search, OER Commons, or MERLOT to find OER from trusted sources and filter them by criteria such as subject, level, license, and rating.

2 Check the license

Another important aspect of OER is the license that specifies how you can use, adapt, and share the material. OER are usually licensed under Creative Commons (CC) licenses, which grant different degrees of permissions and restrictions. For example, a CC BY license allows you to use and remix the material as long as you attribute the original author, while a CC BY-NC-ND license only allows you to use and share the material without any changes or commercial purposes. You should always check the license of the OER you want to use and respect the terms and conditions.

3 Check the quality

Quality is a subjective and context-dependent concept, but there are some general criteria that you can use to assess the quality of OER. For example, you can ask yourself questions such as: Is the material accurate, clear, and consistent? Is the material engaging, interactive, and accessible? Is the material aligned with your learning objectives and outcomes? Is the material adaptable and reusable for different purposes and audiences? You can also use rubrics, checklists, or frameworks such as Achieve OER Rubrics, Quality Matters Standards, or UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for Teachers to guide your quality evaluation.

4 Check the feedback

Feedback is a valuable source of information and improvement for OER. You can seek feedback from your peers, students, or experts on the content, design, and delivery of the OER you use or create. You can also provide feedback to the OER authors or communities to acknowledge their work, suggest enhancements, or report errors. You can use tools such as comments, ratings, reviews, surveys, or analytics to collect and share feedback on OER.

5 Check the impact

Impact is the ultimate goal and measure of OER. You want to know if the OER you use or create have a positive effect on your teaching, learning, and research outcomes. You can measure the impact of OER by using indicators such as cost savings, access rates, completion rates, retention rates, satisfaction rates, or learning gains. You can also use methods such as case studies, testimonials, or portfolios to showcase the impact of OER.

6 Check the sustainability

Sustainability is the long-term viability and growth of OER. You want to ensure that the OER you use or create are maintained, updated, and supported over time. You can contribute to the sustainability of OER by joining or creating OER networks, communities, or platforms that foster collaboration, sharing, and innovation. You can also advocate for OER policies, funding, and recognition at your institution, organization, or sector level.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?