You'll likely find it useful to evaluate OER based on the same standards you use to evaluate other course materials. Here are a few criteria to consider:
Content: Does this OER cover what you'd like your students to learn in the course?
Appropriateness: Is the content and reading level at the right level for your students? Is it challenging enough? Is the level of technicality appropriate for your course?
Accessibility: Are materials available in a format compatible with screen readers or other technology? Are chapters and sections organized using headings? Do images contain alternative text? Do videos include captions and/or transcripts?
Diversity and Inclusion: Is the content inclusive of students represented in your course? Is material diverse in regard to age, ability, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, geography, socio-economic status, and more?
Use: Is the license open? Can you share, reuse, and remix the content freely? For more information on copyright and licensing, check out the Copyright Crash Course.
Quality: Is the OER peer reviewed? Can you read reviews from other instructors who teach courses like yours? Are errors corrected or noted?
Format: Does the material come in a format your students can access easily? Is special software required? Can the material be printed or purchased in print at a low cost?
(Adapted from “Evaluating OER” from the University of Texas Libraries' Open Educational Resources LibGuide, which is licensed under a CC-BY-NC license.)
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