Where do you look for OER?

There is an abundance of openly licensed resources out there; it is easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to find useful and relevant resources. This video provides a nice overview of some of the more common search repositories and tools for finding OER.

Searching OER Repositories

OER repositories are curated collections organized into various categories including discipline, format, and open license. Many repositories have either peer reviews or a rating scale where users have shared their perception or experience with the resource. Start by trying these well-known and user-friendly repositories:

• OER Commons - the go-to repository if you are looking for all types of resources from lesson plans to full courses. Due to the amount of material in OER Commons, there are many options for limiting and filtering your searches such as by discipline, material type of OER, format, education level and more.

  • The New Mexico Public Education Department has an OER hub on OER Commons.

• MERLOT - repository of all types of online learning and support materials - many of which are peer reviewed, as well as content creation tools and hosting, and access to academic discipline and academic support communities.

• LibreTexts Commons has materials 

• SkillsCommons - a comprehensive collection of workforce-related OER created by over 700 community colleges across the US. Created by the Department of Labor’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) program. SkillsCommons contains free and open learning materials and program support materials for job-driven workforce development.

• Mason OER Metafinder (MOM) - This utility from George Mason University Libraries searches 16 OER repositories at once. You can add or remove sources to modify your search targets. 

• OASIS Search - Openly Available Sources Integrated Search (OASIS) is a search tool developed at SUNY Geneseo that aims to make the discovery of open content easier. This tool will simultaneously search 44 different open content sources.

• NMOER Pressbooks - the NMOER platform for open textbooks created by NM authors.

• myText CNM - Central New Mexico Community College's platform for digital textbooks and OERs

Searching for Open Textbooks

If you are looking for an open textbook to replace your current, commercial textbook, start by visiting the three resources listed below.

Open Textbook Library - supported by the Open Education Network at the University of Minnesota, available resources include mainly college-level open textbooks. The repository includes faculty peer reviews, licensing information, a summary of content, format availability, and direct links to resources. It can be searched by keyword or by browsing discipline areas. 

OpenStax - a non-profit out of Rice University, OpenStax offers peer-reviewed open textbooks in a variety of subject areas. Their focus is on high enrollment lower-level undergraduate textbooks. Student and instructor resources are available along with multiple digital formats for download. Students also can purchase print copies typically for less than $65 if they prefer a print version. Work with your institution's bookstore to arrange for print copies for purchase on campus. 

Pressbooks Directory - a free, searchable catalog of several thousand open access books published across hundreds of institutions and platforms worldwide.  

Video (be sure videos include accurate captions or a transcript to allow for full accessibility)

• YouTube (You have to perform a search first, and on the results page, look for the filter buttons in the upper right hand corner. There you can filter by Creative Commons under the features column.)

• Vimeo (You have to create an account to use the library, and to find open materials, use the Creative Commons Filter)

Audio (be sure audio files include a transcript to allow for full accessibility)

• Library Of Congress Audio Files

• Openverse

More Open Textbooks

• LibreText

• BCcampus Open Textbook Project

If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for, ask your campus or subject librarian for help locating relevant OER or other zero cost course materials. Many academic libraries curate online guides related to OER. Your institution's library may have curated online tools for finding OER. One example is from the University of New Mexico's OER Primer Guide. Check to see if your librarians created one. It can be a nice supplement to your learning in these modules.