You should always evaluate the resources you implement in your classroom, no matter where they come from. Some of the evaluation criteria listed below are universal, and others (such as Adaptability and Modularity) are specific to OER.

What should I be thinking about?

List of prioritized items to consider before adopting OER:

Is it aligned to your course learning outcomes?
Is the content, including any instructions and exercises, clear and comprehensible to students?
Is the content consistent with its language and formatting? (e.g. key terms are bold)
Is the content well-organized in terms of sequencing and flow?
Is the content accurate based on your expertise?
Are there any factual, grammatical, or typographical errors?
Is the interface navigable for students?
Is the resource in a file format which allows for adaptations, modifications, rearrangements, and updates?
Is the resource easily divided into modules, or sections, which can be used or rearranged out of their original order?
Is the content available under a license which allows for modifications?
Is the content presented at a reading level appropriate for your students?
Is the content level appropriate for use in your course?
Is the content accessible to students with disabilities through the compatibility of third-party reading applications?
If you are using Web resources, does each image have alt text that can be read? Do videos have accurate closed-captioning?
Are students able to access the materials in a quick, non-restrictive manner?

For download checklist, please review Evaluating OER Checklist.

Attribution

These criteria are from the Affordable Learning Georgia "Selecting Textbooks" webpage have been used with permission from the creator. ↵