In the previous module you were introduced to different tools and repositories to find OER's. In this module, you will learn how to evaluate the resource you find to ensure it meets your teaching and learning needs.
Investigate the available reuse options for OER - adopt, adapt, combine and create
Identify perspectives on evaluating and defining ‘quality’ as it relates to course materials
Utilize relevant rubrics for evaluating OER
There are several rubrics and checklists to assist your assessment of OER. While some criteria on these checklists are unique to OER (i.e. What license is the resource released under?) others are more general, like “Does this resource meet my course learning objectives?” Try browsing one or more of the following OER assessment Rubrics. Consider what questions you might need to answer before including an OER in your teaching, and which rubric you would be most likely to use in evaluating OER.
One widely used way to assess online resources is the CRAAP test. First developed by librarians at California State University—Chico, institutions across the globe have adopted it as a framework for evaluating sources. CRAAP refers to Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy and Purpose
Refers to the timeliness of the information. Ask the following questions:
When was the resource published or posted?
Has the resource been revised or updated?
Does your topic require current information?
Are the links functional?
Refers to the importance of the information for your needs. Ask the following questions:
Does the resource relate to your needs?
Who is the intended audience?
Is the information in the resource at an appropriate level for your learners?
Refers to the source of the information. Ask the following questions:
Who is the creator?
What are the creator’s credentials or organizational affiliations?
Are the creators/collaborators contributors qualified to write on the topic?
Refers to the the reliability and truthfulness of the information. Ask the following questions:
Is the information supported by evidence?
Has the resource been reviewed or refereed?
Are there spelling, grammar, or typographical errors?
Refers to the reason the information exists. Ask the following questions:
What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?
Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?
Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?
Take a look at this two minute video about Evaluating Sources (Western University, 2012) which provides an overview of the CRAAP test.
Activity
Using your course map document that you created in the previous module, evaluate the OER that you have selected using either the CRAAP test or another rubric or criteria provided. Share the results with your library partner.
Additional Resources
Attributions
Information for this module was consulted and adapted from
"Assessing OER" by Ontario Extend is licensed under CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0
"How to Find and Evaluate OER" by Abbey Elder is licensed under CC BY 4.0
"Identifying, Finding, and Adopting OER" by SUNY OER Services is licensed under CC BY 4.0
"OER Evaluation Criteria" by Affordable Learning Georgia is licensed under CC BY 4.0