Getting Started with Finding Open Educational Resources (OER)

A Guide to Navigating the Landscape

Embarking on the quest for the perfect Open Educational Resources (OER) and Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) materials can be daunting. Currently, no single repository houses all available resources, so the key to success lies in a persistent, methodical search approach. Here’s how to streamline the process and reduce frustration:

1. Define Your Search Criteria: Start by identifying the specific needs of your course. Compile a list of keywords related to your subject matter. These keywords will be instrumental as you navigate through multiple databases and repositories.

2. The Berry Picking Method: Think of your search like berry picking—start broad and refine your search based on the resources you encounter. This iterative process allows you to fine-tune your focus and discover resources that meet your precise requirements.

3. Utilize Multiple Repositories (listed below): Since there's no single comprehensive OER repository, it's crucial to extend your search across various platforms. Begin with the ASCCC OEI for a macro view of resources available at the California state level. For more specific needs, use your subject keywords with terms like "libre text," "pressbooks," or "OER Commons" in search engines to find subject-specific or chapter-specific resources.

4. Engage with Your Community: Reach out to colleagues in your field. Often, your peers may already have access to or are in the process of creating OERs that you can collaborate on or adopt. This network can be invaluable in sharing resources that are vetted and potentially customizable.

5. Assess and Decide: Upon finding potential OERs, evaluate them critically. Consider what aspects of the resource you might want to adopt, adapt, or discard. Reflect on how each resource could be integrated into your curriculum and how it aligns with your educational goals.

6. Plan for Integration: Once you've selected suitable OER materials, consider the next steps for integration into your course. This might involve customization, alignment with course objectives, and logistical planning for resource deployment.

Remember, finding the right OER is often a time-consuming process that can take weeks. However, the investment pays off by providing your students with accessible, customizable, and engaging learning materials at no cost. Below, you'll find a list of links to get started on your search for OER and ZTC resources.

In California? Start with the ASCCC OERI!

START HERE: ASCCC OEI list of resources recommended

General OER Search Tools & Repositories

1. LibreTexts

2. Pressbooks Directory 

3. OpenStax

4. Open Textbook Store

5. Open Textbook Library

6. Affordable Learning Georgia/Galileo

7. BC Campus

8. Open Oregon

9. Open Library eCampus Ontario

10. Wikibooks

11. CC Search

12. George Mason University OER Metafinder

13. Internet Archive OER Library

14. Merlot

15. OASIS

16. OER Commons

17. Wikipedia

OER Open Courseware

1. CK-12

2. Lumen Learning

3. MIT OpenCourseWare

4. OER Commons

5. Open Course Library

6. Open Yale Courses

7. Saylor Academy

8. Skills Commons

OER Discipline-Specific

1. CTEOnline (CTE)

2. Digital Public Library of America (US History)

3. MathisPower4U (Math)

4. Noba Project (Psychology)

5. PhET Simulations (Physical Sciences)

6. Project Gutenberg (Literature)

7. Skills Commons (CTE)

8. The American Yawp (US History)

9. Writing Commons (English)

10. San Bernardino Valley College’s large list of resources

11. Adobe Educational Exchange

Ancillary Materials

1. Galileo Ancillary Materials

2. LibreTexts

3. OER Commons

4. PhET Simulations

5. The Learning Portal College Libraries Ontario OER Toolkit

Authoring Guides 

1. Self-Publishing Guide, Lauri Aesoph, BCcampus Open Education

2. Authoring Open Textbooks, Melissa Falldin & Karen Lauritsen, Open Education Network

3. A Guide to Making Open Textbooks with Students, Robin DeRosa, Rajiv Jhangiani, Timothy Robbins, David Squires, et al., Rebus Community

4. Print-on-Demand Guide, Lauri Aesoph, BCcampus Open Education

5. The Rebus Guide to Publishing Open Textbooks (So Far), Rebus Community 

6. UH OER Training, William Meinke, UH OER

7. OER Activity Sourcebook, Naomi Salmon, UW-Madison

1. Go to Google

2. Type in key words related to your topic + Libretext

   1. Example: "History AND Libretext" 

   2. Example 2: "Art AND Pressbooks"

3. Do this for a couple of the bigger databases, I'd start with Libretext, Pressbooks, OpenStax and ASCCC OERI Discipline list. 

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