Once you understand what makes a resource open, the next step is learning how to efficiently find OER that align with your course goals and student needs. Developing effective search strategies will save you time and help you locate high-quality resources that can enhance your teaching while serving your students better.

Searching for OER is different from general internet searching or academic database searching. OER repositories are specifically designed for educators, with filtering tools and quality indicators that can help you quickly identify relevant, reliable resources.

Why this matters for you

When you know where to look and how to search effectively, you can quickly build a collection of resources that perfectly fit your course needs. This skill becomes more valuable over time as you develop a network of trusted repositories and search strategies that work for your discipline.

Why this matters for your students

Effective OER searching allows you to find diverse, current, and engaging materials that traditional textbook selection processes might not offer. Students benefit from resources that are more closely aligned with your specific learning objectives and their diverse learning needs.

Understanding OER Repositories

Before diving into specific search techniques, it’s important to understand what OER repositories are and why they’re your best starting point for finding open educational resources.

What are OER Repositories

OER repositories are specialized digital libraries designed specifically for educational resources. Unlike general internet searches that return a mix of commercial content, personal blogs, and random materials, repositories are curated collections where every resource has been reviewed for educational relevance and proper open licensing. Think of them as the educational equivalent of academic databases—organized, reliable, and designed for your specific needs as an educator.

When you visit an OER repository, you’ll find resources that have been contributed by educators, institutions, and organizations committed to open education. Repositories are designed to include information about licensing, educational level, and subject area, though the completeness of this information can vary depending on how resources were originally submitted. Many resources also include user reviews or adoption statistics, but these community features may not be available for all materials.

How Repositories Work

Repositories organize educational content using systems that make sense for teaching and learning. You can filter results by subject area, educational level (undergraduate, graduate), resource type (textbook, video, activity), and licensing terms. Most repositories also provide detailed descriptions, learning objectives, and author information that help you quickly assess whether a resource fits your needs.

Many repositories include community features like user ratings, reviews, and adoption statistics that provide insight into how other educators have used the resources. Some platforms also track how resources have been adapted or remixed, giving you ideas for customization and evidence of community engagement.

Why Start with Repositories

Repositories save you time by eliminating the need to verify licensing and educational relevance for every resource you encounter. When you find something in a reputable repository, you can be confident that it’s openly licensed and created for educational use. This removes the guesswork involved in evaluating random web content or determining whether you have permission to use and adapt materials.

Additionally, repositories often provide resources in multiple formats, include supplementary materials like instructor guides or assessment tools, and offer direct download options that ensure you can retain and adapt resources according to your needs.

Types of Repositories

Understanding the different types of repositories helps you choose the best starting point for your searches.

Local and Regional Collections

Focus on content relevant to specific geographic areas or educational systems. These are excellent for finding resources that include local examples, cultural references, and regulatory contexts that match your students’ experiences.
The BC Open Collection (BCcampus) exemplifies this approach with its Canadian-focused collection featuring resources created specifically for BC post-secondary institutions, complete with government support and strong quality review processes.

International and Institutional Collections

Offer broader content from universities, organizations, and individual creators worldwide. These provide extensive options across disciplines and often include high-quality resources from prestigious institutions. OpenStax demonstrates this model with professionally developed textbooks that have institutional backing and extensive adoption across North American universities.

Subject-Specific Repositories

Concentrate on particular academic disciplines, offering deep collections in specialized areas along with community features that connect you with other educators in your field. These can be particularly valuable when you need resources that go beyond introductory material.
The National Science Digital Library exemplifies this approach with its focus specifically on STEM education, providing curated collections of high-quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics resources with educational pathways and community support.

Meta-Search Tools

Allows you to search across multiple repositories simultaneously, helping you discover resources you might miss if searching repositories individually.
OER Commons serves as both a comprehensive repository and a discovery tool, providing the largest global collection with advanced search capabilities and community features that help you evaluate and compare resources from multiple sources.

Effective Search Strategies

Developing systematic search approaches will help you find relevant OER more efficiently and avoid getting overwhelmed by the volume of available materials.

Starting with Focused Searches

• Begin with trusted repositories rather than general internet searches—start with BCcampus OpenEd for Canadian content before expanding to international collections
• Use specific, targeted keywords related to your course topics, learning outcomes, or student population—instead of searching for “psychology,” try “introductory psychology,” “cognitive psychology,” or “psychology for health sciences students”
• Think modularly from the beginning—you don’t need to find one perfect textbook but can combine chapters, activities, videos, or other components to create an ideal resource collection

Leveraging Advanced Search Tools

• Use filtering tools available in most repositories to narrow results by:
  • Licence type (start with CC BY or CC BY-SA for maximum flexibility)
  • Subject area and educational level
  • Resource type (textbook, video, activity, assessment)
  • Format (PDF, HTML, interactive)
• Try multiple search terms and synonyms for your topics,  since different resources may use different terminology for the same concepts
• Search by author or institution when you find creators whose work aligns with your teaching philosophy or who teach similar courses
• Explore “related resources” or “users also viewed” features to discover materials you might miss through keyword searching alone

Systematic Result Screening

When reviewing multiple search results, use these quick criteria to identify which resources deserve closer examination:

• Check licensing first before investing time in content review—look for clear Creative Commons or other open licences
• Scan for basic quality signals:
  • Institutional or organisational backing
  • Evidence of peer review or editorial process
  • Recent creation or update dates
  • User ratings or adoption indicators
• Assess initial relevance:
  • Do the title and description match your topic?
  • Is the educational level appropriate for your students?
  • Is the format suitable for your intended use?
• Note any obvious red flags:
  • Broken links or missing content
  • Poor formatting or presentation
  • Unclear authorship or source information

This systematic screening helps you focus detailed evaluation time on the most promising candidates rather than getting lost in comprehensive reviews of every potential resource.

Evaluating OER Quality and Fit

Once you’ve found potentially relevant OER, systematic evaluation helps ensure the resources will effectively support student learning and align with your course goals.

OER Evaluation Framework

The BC Open Education Librarians (BCOEL) have developed a comprehensive framework for evaluating OER across six key dimensions:

Relevance

Does the content align with your course objectives?

• • Review how directly the information addresses your specific learning outcomes
  • Consider whether the scope and depth match your course level and requirements
  • Assess whether the content sequence fits your course structure and pacing

Accuracy

Is the information reliable and current?

• • Verify that information is factually correct and free from major content errors
  • Check for spelling errors, typos, and formatting issues that might distract from learning
  • Look for evidence of peer review or editorial oversight
  • Consider the currency of information, especially in rapidly changing fields

Production Quality

Does the design support effective learning?

• • Evaluate whether information is presented clearly and understandably
  • Assess if the layout and interface are easy to navigate
  • Consider whether design features enhance rather than distract from learning
  • For multimedia resources, check audio and video quality standards

Accessibility

Can all students access and use the resource effectively?

• • Verify that audio and video resources include transcripts or subtitles
  • Check if the resource is available in multiple formats (e.g., both .doc and .pdf)
  • Assess compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers
  • Consider whether the content structure supports diverse learning needs

Interactivity

Does the resource promote active learning?

• • Look for opportunities for students to engage actively with content rather than just reading passively
  • Assess whether you can add interactive elements if they’re missing
  • Consider if there are opportunities for students to test their understanding through embedded questions or activities
  • Evaluate how the resource might support class participation and discussion

Licensing

Do the permissions match your intended use?

• • Confirm the licence allows educational reuse of materials
  • Verify whether the licence permits modifications and adaptations
  • Assess if you can modify the resource to better fit your class objectives or add interactive elements
  • Understand any requirements for attribution or sharing modifications

Practical Evaluation Workflow

1. Start with relevance and licensing as your first filters—if the content doesn’t align with your objectives or doesn’t have appropriate permissions, move on quickly.
2. Assess accuracy and production quality for resources that pass initial screening. Look for obvious errors, poor formatting, or outdated information that would require significant revision.
3. Evaluate accessibility and interactivity for resources you’re seriously considering adopting. Consider whether gaps in these areas can be addressed through adaptation or supplementation.
4. Compare multiple options when you find several potentially suitable resources. Sometimes, combining elements from different OER creates a better solution than using one resource entirely.
5. Document your evaluation to help with future searches and to share insights with colleagues who might be looking for similar resources.

Common Concerns and Clarifications

Faculty transitioning from traditional textbook selection to OER discovery often encounter practical challenges around search efficiency, resource evaluation, and time management. OER searching requires different skills and strategies than choosing from publisher catalogues, and the learning curve can feel steep when you’re already balancing existing workload demands. Let’s address these practical navigation challenges:

“I can’t find anything specific enough for my specialised course topics.”
This is a legitimate challenge, especially in emerging fields or highly specialised areas. Consider searching for broader foundational content that you can supplement with current materials, or look for components (individual chapters, activities, case studies) that you can combine from multiple sources. Sometimes, adapting general content to your specific context can be more effective than waiting for the perfect specialised resource to be created.

“The search results are overwhelming—how do I narrow down my options efficiently?”
Start with the most restrictive filters that still give you reasonable results, then gradually broaden if needed. Focus first on licence type (CC BY or CC BY-SA), then educational level, then subject area. Look for resources with multiple quality indicators rather than trying to evaluate everything. Set a reasonable time limit for initial searches and remember that you can always return to search more later.

“How do I know if a resource I find is actually good quality without spending hours reviewing it?”
Look for quick quality indicators: clear authorship with institutional affiliation, evidence of peer review or editorial oversight, recent creation or update dates, and positive user reviews. Many repositories provide abstracts or summaries that help you assess fit quickly. You can also start by examining the table of contents, learning objectives, or a sample chapter to gauge quality and alignment before committing to a full review.

“The repositories seem to have mostly American content—will this work for my Canadian students?”
While many OER repositories have significant American content, this can often be adapted for Canadian contexts. Look for resources with CC BY or CC BY-SA licences that allow you to modify examples, case studies, and cultural references. Canadian repositories like BCcampus OpenEd are growing rapidly, and you can supplement international content with Canadian examples and perspectives. Sometimes, a well-structured American resource provides an excellent foundation that you can localise.

“I found something perfect, but it’s a few years old—is it still worth using?”
Age alone doesn’t disqualify a resource, especially in fields where foundational concepts remain stable. Evaluate whether the core content is still accurate and relevant, then consider whether you can update examples, data, or references yourself (this is where open licensing becomes valuable). Many successful OER adoptions involve faculty refreshing older resources with current information while building on solid foundational content.

Reflective Activity

Moving Forward

Effective OER searching is a skill that develops with practice and familiarity. As you become more comfortable with different repositories and search strategies, you’ll be able to quickly identify resources that enhance your teaching and serve your students’ diverse learning needs.

The goal isn’t to find perfect resources immediately, but to develop efficient search strategies that help you discover the components you need to create an ideal learning experience. Remember that OER’s adaptability means you can often improve resources you find rather than needing to find perfect matches.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to the KPU Library for assistance with searching for OER. Librarians can help you develop effective search strategies, identify relevant repositories for your discipline, and troubleshoot any challenges you encounter during the discovery process.

Next, we’ll explore how to modify and adapt the OER you find to better serve your specific course goals and student population.