Finding OERs
There are several ways to search for OERs. Many people probably would start with a Google search but with all the resources available, this might be overwhelming.
A more effective strategy is to use OER repositories. There are effective because the resources have been assessed and are included in the repository based on their findability, ease of use and wide ranging disciplinary materials.
Here is a list of some of the OER Repositories currently available:
Photographs and Images
The Gender Spectrum Collection. Photo library featuring images of trans and non-binary models that go beyond the clichés.
Flickr.comsupports Creative Commons. A filter on its site facilitates search results from creators who want to share their work.
Unsplash.comAll the photos on Unsplash can be used for for free whether they are for
General OER Repositories
Creative Commons Search – A repository of various types of media, including images, music, and videos.
OER Commons – A large collection of a variety of types of OER, including textbooks, courses, and ancillary materials.
MERLOT – “a curated collection of free and open online teaching, learning, and faculty development services contributed and used by an international education community.”
CORE– Based in the United Kingdom, CORE is committed to aggregating open access research from across the globe.
eCampusOntario H5P Studio:Ontario educators can create, share, and discover over 45 different types of interactive activities which can be embedded in your LMS. There is a database of created OERs which can be used or adapted.
eCampusOntario Open Library:Ontario’s home for open educational resources. The library has over 500 resources spanning from textbooks to syllabi. All the resources in the Open Library have an Open License.
Textbooks
OpenStax – Supported by Rice University, OpenStax has a huge collection of open, peer-reviewed textbooks on a large variety of subjects.
Project Gutenberg – A collection of tens of thousands of digitized books available for download; audiobooks are also available.
AU Press – Athabasca University’s AU Press publishes open access journals and books with a focus on Canada, the North American West, and the Circumpolar North.
Courses
Khan Academy – A collection of instructional videos and practice exercises on topics including math, science, programming, history, English, economics, and standardized test prep.
MIT OpenCourseWare– offers free access to almost all MIT course content
Saylor Academy – a non-profit organization committed to providing free and open online courses
Coursera – an educational platform partnered with dozens of prestigious universities and institutions (including MoMA, Stanford, Yale, the University of Toronto, and the University of London)
Discipline-Specific Repositories
Mathematics and Sciences – https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/
University of Colorado at Boulder creates open source, research-based, interactive simulations for mathematics and the s