OER Commons

OER Commons is a well-known online repository of Open Educational Resources. It was launched in 2007 by the Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education (ISKME) to provide a centralized platform for educators to find, create, and share open educational resources.

One of the critical features of OER Commons is its robust search functionality, which allows educators to find resources by keyword, subject, grade level, and other criteria. The platform hosts over 50,000 resources, including lesson plans, videos, images, interactive simulations, and more. These resources are organized into collections that cover a wide range of subjects and topics, from math and science to social studies and the arts.

In addition to hosting resources, OER Commons also provides a range of tools for educators to create and share their own resources. These tools include an authoring platform and a social network where educators can connect and collaborate on resource development.

One notable example of OER Commons in action is its use in the Open Up Resources curriculum, which was developed in partnership with several leading education organizations. The Open Up Resources curriculum is designed to be used in K-12 classrooms and is aligned with the Common Core State Standards. It includes high-quality, standards-aligned materials, including lesson plans, assessments, and other resources available for free on OER Commons.

OER Commons has been widely praised for promoting open education and providing educators with easy access to high-quality educational resources. Its user-friendly platform and robust search functionality make it a valuable tool for educators at all levels, from K-12 to higher education. As open education continues to gain momentum, OER Commons is likely to remain a key player in the field, helping educators find, create, and share available educational resources that benefit learners worldwide.

It is important to note that most of the content shared on OER Commons needs a Learning Management System (LMS) to host the provided courses.