Open Education Resources (OER)

If the content that you need for your instruction does not exist, or is in a format that is not compatible with your instructional context, creating an OER can be a valuable option. 

There are many tools available for the editing, adapting, and creation of OER. To learn more about available tools, visit the OER Library Guide Remix Page. 

When creating an OER, the accessibility of the OER should be a major consideration during the planning and development process. For an OER to be truly open and provide access to education, the resource must be accessible to each and every learner and not create unnecessary barriers to access. 

Some questions to consider when determining the format and delivery of an OER include: 

• Is the software used to create the OER compatible with most digital accessibility tools? 
• Is the text clearly identifiable to a computer as text? 
• Is the format of the OER compatible with assistive devices? 
• Can the OER be offered in multiple file formats? (e.g .doc, .pdf, .epub)

Seeking out peer review prior to publishing your OER is a valuable step in the OER creation process, regardless of the scope or subject. A peer will be able to provide meaningful feedback on the content of the OER and may have suggestions for accessability and delivery of the content.

Depending on the context of the OER and your selected method for sharing the work, peer review can range from asking a colleague to review the content and delivery of your OER, to sharing your OER to a repository that embeds peer review into the sharing process. 

Many OER Repositories include peer review in the OER sharing process.Below are a selection of these resources and information on their peer review processes: 

• MERLOT: Peer Review Guidelines
• Open Textbook Library: Peer Review Rubric
• BC Campus Open Textbooks Peer Review Rubric