The document outlines the general guidelines and procedures for adopting or developing an open educational resources (OER) or affordable learning course at a university. It details the 10 step process which includes getting department chair approval, submitting application forms, conducting consultations with librarians and instructional designers, building out the course content using selected OERs in phases, and submitting checkpoint forms for review at various stages of development. Upon final approval, developers will receive a stipend for their work creating the OER course.

1. Guidelines and Procedure for
OER/Affordable Learning Course
Adoption/Development
• Designed and approved OER courses are required to run for at least two (2) academic years.
• An OER course may be rolled out in phases. For example, the developer may “pilot” the OER course for one
semester before additional faculty are involved. The “phasing in” process will be discussed and determined
by the developer and department chair. Eventually, all sections of a course need to use the same materials,
but it does not have to be all at once. However, all sections of a course must meet the same learning
outcomes as designated by the Instructional Package, which is identical for all sections.
• Once you are approved to develop an OER course, you will be added to a D2L OER Course Development
training course with helpful resources, and some required “checkpoints” and consultations.
• The recommended timeline to develop a course is one semester, but it may take more time.
• Upon final development and approval of the OER course, a stipend is available as compensation for the
time and work involved.
After speaking with your department chair and getting
their approval, submit the online form Application for
OER Course Adoption/ Development
https://tinyurl.com/h9542wxu
Upon notification of approval of the application by the
Academic Services Department, complete the OER Course
Development Form.
Schedule a consultation with the Director of Library Services
or a campus Reference Librarian. During this consultation,
you will review the course development form and discuss
plans, including:
o Current resources used for course and learning outcomes
o Possible OER resources and other materials available*
o Identify any copyright or Fair Use concerns
With the assistance of the campus Reference Librarian,
select the OERs to be used for the course and complete the
Checklist for Evaluating OERs.
Checkpoint One: Submit the
OER Course Development
Form to Dropbox in the D2L
OER Development course.
*Even if you already have
possible OER resources in
mind, the librarians at HGTC
will likely be able to expand
your choices.
Checkpoint Two: Submit the
Checklist for Evaluating OERs
to the Dropbox in the D2L
OER Development course.
Step One
Step Two
Step Three
Step Four
General OER Course Development Process
continued on back 

2. Schedule your consultation with the Instructional Designer in
Academic Services.* This consultation will involve:
o Discussing strengths and opportunities related to using
OER for the course
o Reviewing the OER resources selected and identifying
gaps or concerns for meeting learning outcomes
o Reviewing the completed OER evaluation checklist
o Selecting/discussing additional supplemental materials
needed, if any.
o Identifying individual training that may be needed
o Devising a timeline for course development to be
followed
Build first unit/month of course using selected OERs.
Schedule the second consultation with the Instructional
Designer to review course progress, course design and
set up. The purpose is to ensure course quality and
offer the Instructional Designer an opportunity to make
recommendations early in the course development process.
Build the rest of the course.
Complete the OER Quality Review Form for course.
Schedule a final consultation with Instructional Designer to
review the completed course and OER Quality Review Form.
*It is optional, but it may be
helpful to consider inviting
the Reference Librarian to
this consultation or any other
along the way.
Checkpoint Three
Checkpoint Four: Submit the
OER Quality Review Form
to Dropbox in the D2L OER
Development course.
Step Five
Step Six
Step Seven
Step Eight
Step Nine
Step Ten
General OER Course Development Process (continued)
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