Thread:Straw dog ... (3)

Could we reduce this page to something like:

With the plethora of knowledge and educational resources on the web, finding OER which meet your needs in context is still an art. Here we present some guidelines on how you might like to start.

The various sections are presented in an order deemed most efficient with state of the art search engines and OER repositories as they are today (mid-2008). However, you may be drawn to a particular sub-section and find what you need just as efficiently.

Start with a general search engine and some carefully chosen keywords (e.g. K-12, biology, photosynthesis). If you need to search further, try some of the general OER repositories, and finally the relevant theme-based repositories, or individual project sites.

[process so far suggests placing Individual Project Sites before Open Text Books]

If entire text books (or extracts) are what you require, then start with "Open Textbooks".

Search for quality, and have some confidence in your own ability to judge that in terms of how useful the resource looks for you and your learners.

Be aware of data formats when downloading resources for use and adaptation. In general opt for open standards supported by FLOSS to ensure adaptability and sharability.

Details of the search engines and repositories follow, along with some advice on accessibility and perspectives from the coal face.