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The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More

Open Educational Resources: Evaluate

As with traditional educational resources, the quality and applicability of OERs to your specific context can vary considerably. Before selecting an OER to use or adapt, you should critically evaluate it.

Checklist

When evaluating an OER, consider the following checklist items:

  • Is the work comprehensible and clearly written?
  • If it is a longer work such as a textbook or full course, is it logically organized?
  • Is it accurate? Are there obvious errors?
  • Is it appropriately licensed for your desired use? Is it in a format that can be easily edited?
  • Does the work align with your curricular needs? Is it at an appropriate depth?
  • Is the work appropriate for your particular geographic and cultural context?
  • Is the work accessible to learners with disabilities?

Keep in mind that even if the answer to one of these questions is "no", it's possible for you to adapt the work to make it more appropriate for use. For example, the work could be localized to better fit your geographic context.