OER Search Strategies
Use MSMU Library Resources!
- Consider filling in some of the gaps by using library resources, such as eBooks and articles.
- Apply for an MSMU ALMI stipend for your class.
Find Guides by Subject
- PCC Guides by Subject: Google Docs made by Portland Community College librarians in response to requests for help from instructors. They vary in depth.
- Saylor OER Courses by Subject: OER courses by subject/class created for instructors building open courses. Excellent resource.
Use Complete OER Textbooks
- Open Textbook Library: Hundreds of complete, open college-level textbooks. Many include peer-reviews.
- Open Stax: Rice Connexions is providing peer-reviewed, quality open textbooks.
Search Large OER Repositories
- OER Commons: Offers a variety of OER at a variety of levels and subjects. Use limiters on left side of results page.
- OASIS: OASIS (Openly Available Sources Integrated Search) offers the ability to search a range of OER materials from multiple sources, such as textbooks, courses, corresponding materials, interactive simulations, and public domain books and resources.
- MERLOT: One of the biggest OER repositories, but a bit unwieldy and difficult to search. Use limiting options on the left side of results page.
- Mason OER Metafinder: Searches 15 OER repositories simultaneously.
Looking for Complete Courses?
- Saylor.org: Offers full courses online. Though they charge students to enroll, they have composed their courses using mostly open materials that can be copied, adapted, etc.
- Lumen Learning: Offers complete courses composed of mostly open materials that can be copied and adapted for free. Lumen also offers opportunities to partner with institutions to manage and adapt resources for courses at a cost to students. Contact us if you would like to partner with Lumen.
- Open Course Library: This WA project offers 81 of Washington's most enrolled courses. There are a lot of great readings in these course files. Great community college content
What's next?
Searching for OER can be tricky, but librarians are happy to help! Contact us for help with your search!
See the "big list" for even more places to look for OER.
