OER & Digital Curriculum

How does learning change when students have access to digital resources and a learning environment that goes beyond the classroom walls? This toolkit is designed to help educators incorporate digital curriculum by showcasing the research-based practices that other schools have used to great success.

Why OER mattersDescription of OER resources4 Cs or OER

Getting Started with Digital Content

Success depends on a strong network of professionals working together to support digital programs

Challenges and Solutions

Consider the following challenges you might encounter when migrating to digital content

Digital Curriculum Checklist

Evaluate your school’s readiness for a digital curriculum

Instructional Delivery

Game-based learning, virtual simulations and multimedia help students engage in personalized learning experiences 

Learning Management Systems

A learning management system (LMS) allows teachers to offer tailored instruction: anytime, anywhere

Parent and Teacher Resources

Websites for digital media, educational app reviews, internet safety, online privacy and family media management

A Platform for Learning Transformation

An overview of Microsoft* CityNext Education solutions: providing a broad platform of technologies

Curriculum and Assessment

This Microsoft* resource outlines how technology can improve curriculum and assessment outcomes

Transforming Learning Environments for Anytime, Anywhere Learning for All

This Microsoft* paper explores how ‘flipped communities’ may serve as a catalyst for schools to create educational impact

Curriculum, Content and Assessment for the Real World

This Microsoft* paper provides an overview of recent practice and research to guide effective curriculum

Vision for Anytime Anywhere Learning for All Transformation Framework

This Microsoft* paper addresses vision design and provides evidence of how it can inspire successful transformation

Create and Modify Open Educational Resources

An overview of OER’s ability to be customized to meet a variety of teaching and learning needs

Opening Up to Open Educational Resources

A comprehensive guide to OER and how these teaching and learning materials are freely available to anyone

OER Localization

An introduction to the practice of localization: adapting a resource for a new context such as geographical or pedagogical

Modifying Open Textbooks

An overview in modifying or adapting open textbooks to ensure that the resource meets your unique needs

OER and Traditional Publishing

Discover the ways that traditional publishers can evolve their business model and incorporate OER benefits

OER Resources

Discover a wealth of OER: both general collections and resources organized by subject

The #GoOpen Initiative

The U.S. Department of Education’s #GoOpen initiative encourages states to help school districts transform learning through OER

General Open Resources Guide

This resource, created by the Saylor Foundation, lists potential sources for openly licensed materials

The Open Education Resources Ecosystem

This report, prepared by The Boston Consulting Group, is a comprehensive evaluation of the OER movement

Reality Bytes: Virtual Reality and K-12 Education

Virtual Reality immerses students in rich worlds to free learning from the confines of a screen.

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Embracing Reading in the Digital Age

How do traditional reading and online reading differ and what does that mean for our students? Read and respond to Leslie Wilson's analysis. 

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12 Sure Fire Ways to Unlock Successful PBL

For today's student to become seekers of knowledge and lifetime self-learners, fostering 21st Century skills and Project Based Learning is critical. Read Mike Gorman's ideas for effectively tying PBL work to standards and skills. 

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Lego - Play Well

In the inaugural post for the Today's Library Media Center series, Todd Burleson explores 'Legos', their uses and student creativity. 

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200 Ways to Use Word Clouds in the Classroom

Do you want to explore creative uses of word clouds for learning? Read this list of 200 ways to use Word Clouds by Mike Gorman. 

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The Demise of the Education Buzzword “Student Engagement”

Buzzwords are a part of every industry or organization including educational technology. Read Elliott Levine's analysis of the commonly used phrase "student engagement". 

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3 Types of Change Readiness

When forging ahead with change, school leadership needs to understand the dynamics of each type of change. Read Leslie Wilson's insights for determining readiness for change. 

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The 3 L's of Educational Technology

What are the 3 most important factors in educational technology? You can find out by reading these impactful insights from Craig Williams. 

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Taking a Trip with Google Expeditions

We welcome new Leadership Voices Blogger, Melissa Lim! Learn all about Google Expeditions and the engaging learning experiences they can provide. 

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Positive and Energized - Getting to Flow in Technology and Education

There are many ways to approach educational technology in schools. Read as Leslie Wilson illustrates the difference that motivation, force and approach make. 

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Cow Paths of Learning

Taking a fresh look at student learning in new and instinctive ways is an critical part of empowering transformative learning. In this post, David Jakes shares essential questions for today's leaders. 

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