Choose your format(s) and platform(s)

If you're adopting existing resources, like OpenStax books or Youtube videos, your platform choice may already be set. Remember that it's still your responsibility to ensure the materials are accessible! You might also want to consider whether or not you trust that the organization providing the content will continue to host it online, or if you want to work with the library to create an archived version (an option if the material is truly OER).

Those of you creating, customizing, or remixing resources can choose from many platforms and formats. You may select them because they work for your students, or you yourself are comfortable using them. Below are several platforms that are frequently used for OER at LBCC.

Pressbooks

• Description: E-books with embedded videos and interactives (using H5P) that can also be easily downloaded and printed.
• Drawbacks: If you haven't used WordPress before, there may be a bit of a learning curve. The free version is not fully featured, but Open Oregon lets LBCC authors use their paid account.
• Documentation: Pressbooks User Guide
• Accessibility
• Examples: Blueprint for Success in College and Career (Dave Dillon); Troubleshooting Motors and Controls (Ken Dickson-Self); Technical Writing for Technicians (Will Fleming).
• Get help: Michaela Willi Hooper can set up a Pressbook for you through Open Oregon's premium account and provide basic support.

Moodle

• Description: An interactive, digital environment (learning management system) where you can share different types of resources along with managing course enrollment, assignments, and grading. You can create quizzes in Moodle, and now you can also use H5P to create other interactive features (you need to ask the Moodle administrators to turn on "Bells and Whistles" in your account).
• Drawbacks: Moodle courses aren't optimized for print or off-line access, although it is possible to print content from Moodle.
• Documentation (how-to) & Accessibility: Moodle Faculty Resources
• Examples: WR 121 (Jenn Kepka), TA 121 (Tinamarie Ivey), CS 244 (Ziko Rizk)
• Get help: Elearning staff (Paul Tannahill and Eric Bryant)

MS Office (Word/PowerPoint/Excel)

• Best for: People who already use these tools and find they work well for their students.
• Drawbacks: You will need to use an additional platform (like Google Drive, Moodle, or CommunityArchive) to share the resources online with your class.
• Documentation (how-to)
• Accessibility: Word, PowerPoint, Excel
• Examples: BA 226 (Keith Tierney)
• Get help: Librarians or Elearning staff are good places to start.
• Important to know: Your students can get Office365 for free through LBCC!

Google Suite (Docs/Slides/Forms/Sheets/Drive/Sites)

• Best for: People who already use these tools and find they work well for their students.
• Drawbacks: Google is still not completely accessible with some screen readers, so be sure to work closely with CFAR.
• Documentation (how-to)
• Accessibility
• Get help: Librarians or Elearning staff are good places to start. Paul Tannahill in Elearning is a Google enthusiast who is particularly knowledgeable about these platforms.

Other tools

The above is not an exhaustive list of options!

• You may decide to use games or software development platforms, working closely with Information Services and CFAR to ensure the platforms conform to accessibility and campus IT policies.
• If your primary format is audiovisual you may use Youtube (just be sure to add a transcript or closed-captioning, or work with Media Services to do this).
• New options are popping up all the time: LibreText recently launched an OER Remixer, allowing you to easily combine existing OER from different publishers. 
• Michelle DeSilva and Amy Hofer have compiled a list of other OER authoring tools (CC BY 4.0).

Whatever platforms or formats you choose, be sure you know the level of support that's available on campus, and talk to CFAR to ensure resources are accessible to all students.