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Methods of evaluation (from OER Handbook for Educators)
There is no single method of evaluating OER quality or its effectiveness in the learning activities involving it. For many educators, the most important thing to measure is the learning outcomes. This part of evaluation is routine, since you are already evaluating learners on what they have learned. Although learners failing to acquire the knowledge and information does not mean the OER is faulty, it does raise questions about its effectiveness.

Another metric for evaluation is learner reaction. In addition to finding out whether or not learners liked the OER, find out the "whys" behind their preferences. Although the composition of classrooms change over time, you should start to see patterns in the preferences of students. This evaluation can take the form of a paper survey, in-class discussion or focus groups. Which method you chose will depend on the time you are able to devote to evaluation.

The third metric is a difficult one to measure, but it is what is often called "return on investment (ROI)." The concept of return on investment essentially asks "Was it worth the investment?" In order for measurement to be fully accurate, you need take into consideration the time taken at each part of the OER life cycle. This metric is largely subjective, as only you can measure how much your time is worth. You'll probably find that your first OER will take more time than you originally thought. It is not uncommon to have technological issues during the first implementation. This should not discourage you from future OER production and use; as you develop new skills and refine others the amount of time needed will be reduced. You should also consider how much time it would have taken you to build the OER from scratch in relation to the other costs of proprietary solutions.

The OER Handbook offers the following advice:


 * Check for completeness, appropriateness and quality for your context:
 * OER developed elsewhere by others may need significant customization to be effective in your local context.
 * Because OER is generated largely through volunteer work, the topics and types of OER available varies widely. Additionally, quality control is handled differently by each site, with some sites being more selective than others. This occasionally makes the process of finding a quality OER difficult or frustrating.

As you search for OERs, as noted here, think about the criteria you'll use. You might, for instance, consider MERLOT’s Peer Review process criteria: > Timeliness > Favorable reviews > Permanence/lasting value > Authority: author > Scope and depth > Physical quality > Formats available: print, CD-ROM, online, etc. > Reading level > Accessibility
 * Quality of content, literary merit and format

THis site offers a useful online tool for evaluating OERs.
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