I evaluated OERCommons.org, a free open educational resource designed primarily for teachers and students. Its mission is to close the gap in education by providing accessible, high-quality educational materials, aligning with the belief that education is a fundamental human right. The platform even includes a FAQ document explaining what OER is, its purpose, and how it benefits both students and educators.

User Experience and Navigation

OERCommons is visually appealing, and had a clean and modern design that pulled me in. Navigation was straightforward, with a search function prominently displayed on the homepage. Resources are categorized by subject and grade level, making it easier for educators to locate relevant materials. Additionally, filters allow users to refine their search by material type, reading level, and other criteria, which helps in narrowing down applicable resources efficiently.

One drawback is that the “Standards” section is aligned specifically with U.S. education standards, and there are no Canadian educational standards. This makes it more time-consuming for Canadian educators to determine whether a resource aligns with their curriculum. However, for those willing to take the time to sift through materials, the platform offers a broad range of high-quality resources.

Resource Quality and Usability

From the resources I reviewed on OERCommons, many were well-structured and user-friendly, lessons were typically laid out clearly, and often included links to additional materials and worksheets. Some resources even offer a “student view” option, making it easy to share content directly with students via Google Classroom or other document-sharing platforms.

At my school, where we do not have physical textbooks for subjects like math, I see OERCommons as a particularly beneficial resource. The availability of structured lessons and worksheets can help bridge the gap in providing students with accessible learning materials. Although, does not offer as much to courses like English or Social studies.

One challenge I found is that resources are not always accurately categorized. While searching for specific topics, such as “grammar and vocabulary,” I encountered resources from unrelated subjects like Life Sciences and Social Studies. It occurred to me that this issue arises because some contributors tag their materials with multiple subjects, leading to too many results that may not be directly relevant.

Effectiveness for Educators

OERCommons can be a valuable tool for teachers looking to enhance their existing lesson plans or incorporate new ideas and can be useful when supplementing or modifying lessons rather than serving as a primary curriculum source. In my experience, teachers who have established lessons will have their resources and materials ready and may not turn to OERCommons, but those looking for fresh approaches or supplementary materials may find it helpful.

While the platform is particularly useful for Mathematics, where structured lessons and problem sets are more universally applicable, it may be less effective for subjects like English Language Arts or Social Studies, which require more specificity and alignment with local curriculum standards or content ideas.

Final Thoughts

Overall, OERCommons is a well-designed and useful resource with a wealth of educational materials. While it has some limitations – such as its U.S.- centered standards and occasional miscategorization of resources – it remains a valuable tool for educators seeking to expand their instructional materials. Reviews from Commonsense.org indicate that many educators find OERCommons beneficial, reinforcing its credibility as a helpful educational platform.

For those new to OERCommons, there are various YouTube tutorials available that provide guidance on how to navigate the website and maximize its features. Below, I have linked some helpful videos to assist users in getting started!