Consider the following key points when selecting courses for OER curation and working through Assignment I of the worksheet:

1. Identify the courses that would most benefit from OER curation. At the outset, the best strategy may be to target the low-hanging fruit. In other words, are there specific subjects at a certain level that you anticipate will be relatively easy to match to OER (e.g. first-year biology courses).

2. Consider the number of students that may be impacted by OER adoption. Is the course high enrollment? How many times is the course offered and how many sections are offered? Consider reaching out to the Registrar's Office to see if they can share enrollment and course offering data from current and previous semesters (see sample email template in Appendices in the worksheet).

3. Are the course materials required for the course very expensive? Would replacing the course materials with OER reduce barriers and improve educational outcomes for students?

4. Do you have an existing relationship with the course instructor? Is the instructor open to OER? Would OER adoption require departmental approval? If so, which instructor would best address departmental adoption? To what extent might the instructor be willing to collaborate with you on this work (eg. review curated OER)?

5. What is your area of expertise? Generally, curating OER will come easier when you have some understanding of the subject matter and courses, especially as you begin curation. As you develop more experience, you may feel more confident curating outside the subjects you know best.

This section will address the process of locating and collecting syllabi and course descriptions. Consider the following points as you work through Assignment II on the worksheet:

1. The more information you can gather about the course objectives, topics, and learning outcomes, the more accurate and comprehensive curation of OER will be for the course. Syllabi or completed course templates may be especially valuable tools for curation. See sample email template in Appendices within the worksheet for an adaptable draft faculty e-mail.

2. While it is valuable to find the most efficient strategies for collecting syllabi and course descriptions, consider the added value of notifying instructors before you begin curation. Some instructors may be able to share additional insights related to the course that may not be gleaned from the syllabus.

This optional section is provided for those who were not able to successfully collect syllabi or course descriptions. Assignment III in the worksheet will help establish workflows if this step is necessary to your curation efforts. The course materials assigned by the instructor may provide some insight and the bookstore website may be a helpful tool. Skimming through commercial texts may help with identifying topics addressed in the course, especially if the materials are required by the instructor. This step will not be necessary if you are working from the syllabus and it outlines the texts for the course. Rather, consult with commercial textbooks using a book distributor platform of your choice. Consider a platform that provides you with a Table of Contents preview at a minimum.