How to Curate High-Quality Open Educational Resources

13 December 2025

In today's digital age, open educational resources (OER) have become a game changer for both educators and learners. These free, accessible, and adaptable learning materials provide a wealth of knowledge on virtually any subject. However, with so much content out there, how do you find and curate high-quality OER that truly add value?

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of resources available, you're not alone! This guide will walk you through the entire process of curating top-notch OER that meet high educational standards.

What Are Open Educational Resources (OER)?

Before diving into the curation process, let's establish what OER actually are.

OER are freely available teaching and learning materials that can be used, shared, and modified without restrictions. Think of them as the digital version of public libraries, filled with textbooks, lesson plans, videos, quizzes, and more—all without any paywalls or licensing headaches.

These resources are typically licensed under Creative Commons (CC) or other open licenses, ensuring that educators and students can use them legally and ethically.

But here’s the catch: not all OER are created equal. Some are incredibly well-researched and valuable, while others are outdated, inaccurate, or just plain confusing. That’s why curation is so important!

Why Curation Matters

Curating OER isn’t just about gathering links and dumping them into a Google Doc. It’s about carefully selecting, organizing, and presenting resources in a way that enhances learning.

Poorly curated OER can lead to confusion, misinformation, or disengagement. Imagine trying to learn calculus from a random collection of YouTube videos with conflicting explanations—frustrating, right? A well-curated selection, on the other hand, guides learners seamlessly through a subject with clear, structured materials.

Done right, OER curation improves:

- Quality of learning materials – Ensuring accuracy and relevance.
- Engagement – Making content more interactive and accessible.
- Ease of use – Helping educators and learners find what they need quickly.

Now, let’s break down exactly how to curate high-quality OER effectively.

Step 1: Define Your Purpose and Audience

Before you start collecting resources, ask yourself:

- Who is my target audience (students, teachers, self-learners)?
- What subject or topic am I focusing on?
- What are the learning goals?

For example, if you're curating OER for high school biology teachers, your selection will look very different from a list intended for college-level physics students. Being clear about your goals ensures that you gather only the most relevant and useful materials.

Step 2: Search for Reliable OER Platforms

Not all educational resources floating around on the internet are truly "open." You need to search in the right places.

Here are some of the best repositories for high-quality OER:

- OER Commons (www.oercommons.org) – A vast collection of open courses, lesson plans, and textbooks.
- MIT OpenCourseWare (ocw.mit.edu) – Free courses from MIT, suitable for higher education.
- Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org) – Interactive lessons on various subjects.
- OpenStax (www.openstax.org) – College-level textbooks available for free.
- MERLOT (www.merlot.org) – Peer-reviewed educational materials across disciplines.

When searching for resources, use keywords like "open educational resources," "free course materials," or "Creative Commons textbooks" to narrow down high-quality options.

Step 3: Evaluate the Quality of Resources

Just because a resource is open doesn’t mean it’s useful. You need to assess its quality before adding it to your curated list. Here are key factors to consider:

1. Accuracy & Credibility

- Is the information correct and up to date?
- Is the source reputable (university, research institution, or credible educator)?

2. Licensing & Permissions

- Is it truly open? Check for a Creative Commons (CC) license or other open licensing details.
- Can the material be modified and shared legally?

3. Accessibility & Usability

- Does the resource work well on different devices (desktop, mobile, tablet)?
- Is it available in multiple formats (PDF, video, text)?

4. Engagement & Interactivity

- Does the resource include quizzes, activities, or multimedia components?
- Is the content engaging and easy to understand?

If a resource ticks all these boxes, it’s worth adding to your list!

Step 4: Organize Resources Effectively

A chaotic list of links won't do anyone any favors. Organizing your OER logically makes them easier to navigate. Consider:

1. Categorization

Divide resources into clear categories like:
- By subject (Math, Science, History, etc.)
- By education level (K-12, College, Lifelong Learning)
- By format (Videos, Textbooks, Interactive Simulations)

2. Annotations

Don’t just dump a link—provide context. Add a brief description explaining:
- What the resource covers.
- Who it’s best suited for.
- Any special features (quizzes, hands-on activities, etc.).

Example annotation:

🔗 Khan Academy – Algebra
A free, interactive course covering algebra basics with video lessons, practice problems, and quizzes. Ideal for high school students and beginners.

3. Accessibility Considerations

Ensure resources are inclusive by checking if they offer:
- Closed captions (for videos)
- Transcripts (for audio content)
- Screen reader-friendly formats (for text materials)

These small details make a big difference for learners with disabilities!

Step 5: Keep Your OER Collection Updated

The internet is constantly evolving—what's useful today may be outdated tomorrow. Regularly review your curated OER to ensure:

- Broken links are removed.
- New, improved resources are added.
- Outdated materials are replaced with up-to-date versions.

A good habit is to revisit your collection every few months and make necessary updates.

Step 6: Share and Promote Your Curated OER

Now that you've built a solid collection, share it widely! Here’s how:

- Create a Google Doc, website, or blog post with your curated list.
- Share on educational forums and social media (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook groups).
- Collaborate with teachers and institutions to improve and expand the collection.

Encouraging feedback from educators and learners can also help refine your selection over time.

Final Thoughts

Curating high-quality open educational resources is more than just gathering links—it’s about providing structured, well-organized, and engaging content that enhances learning. By following these steps, you'll ensure that your OER collection is both useful and accessible to a wide audience.

So, are you ready to start curating? The world of free knowledge awaits!