Before you search
Finding open resources is easier if you know what you want. Write down the subject, the level (for example, first-year university or lower secondary school), the language, and the format you prefer, such as a textbook, short lessons, practice questions or images. Note also what you intend to do with the material. If you only want to read it, almost any free resource will do. If you want to change it, print it for a class or put it on a shared drive, you need one that gives permission for those actions.
Step 1: Where to search
There is no single place that holds everything. Useful starting points tend to fall into a few types.
- Collections run by educational bodies. Universities, school systems and public agencies sometimes keep libraries of materials they have produced or reviewed.
- Subject-focused repositories. Some projects collect open textbooks or lesson plans in a particular field, such as mathematics or languages.
- Search tools with license filters. Many general search engines and image sites let you filter results by reuse rights. The filters help but are not perfect, so always confirm on the page itself.
- Libraries and librarians. Academic and public libraries often maintain guides to open materials, and librarians can help you narrow a search. Library services are an underused resource for this.
- Colleagues and communities. Other teachers or learners in the same subject often know the best materials.
Try several sources, and try different words for the same idea; a resource labeled “open textbook” may also appear as “free course text” or “openly licensed”.
Step 2: Read the license
A resource that is free to read is not necessarily free to reuse. Copyright and licensing rules apply to online material just as they do to print. Look for a license statement, often near the title or at the bottom of the page. Many open resources use Creative Commons licenses, which are expressed through short labels. In general terms:
- Attribution means you must credit the creator.
- ShareAlike means adaptations must carry the same license.
- NonCommercial means you cannot use the work for commercial purposes. What counts as commercial can be debatable, so check the license’s own explanation.
- NoDerivatives means you may share it but not change it.
- CC0 or a public-domain dedication means the creator has given up rights as far as the law allows.
Combine this with your plans. If you intend to translate a text, avoid NoDerivatives. If you plan to include it in a paid course, check the NonCommercial condition. Also be aware that a page may contain material from other sources under different terms, for example an image inside an otherwise openly licensed chapter, so check for notes about third-party content. This is general information and not legal advice; for a particular situation, rely on the license text, the licensor’s guidance, or your institution’s advice.
Step 3: Judge quality
Open does not mean good, so apply the same source evaluation questions you would use for any other material.
- Who made it? Look for an author, an organization, and some statement of review or editing.
- When was it written or updated? Subjects such as science and technology change, and outdated material can mislead.
- Is it accurate? Compare a few key claims with another reliable source. Techniques like lateral reading, where you check a source by leaving it to see what others say about it, are useful here.
- Does it match your level and curriculum? A beautiful text pitched at the wrong level will not help.
- Is it accessible? Check that images have descriptions, that videos have captions and that the layout works on a phone or with a screen reader.
- Does it work as a teaching tool? Good materials include clear explanations, examples, practice questions and a sensible order.
A short trial helps: read a chapter, try a few exercises, and decide whether it works for you before building a plan around it.
Step 4: Save a copy
Online resources can move, change or vanish, so keep a copy if the license allows it. Download the file if the site offers a download option, and store it somewhere you control. A basic backup strategy, such as keeping a second copy on another device or storage service, protects against accidental loss. Use consistent file naming, for example subject, title, source and date, so you can find things later.
Alongside the file, keep a short record: the title, author, source address, license and date you accessed it. If you are unsure whether you may store or share a copy, treat the license as the guide and, where it is unclear, contact the creator or ask your institution.
Step 5: Use it and give credit
When you use or share a resource, attribute it as the license requires. A good attribution typically includes the title, the author, the source and the license. If you change the material, say so. For learners, this may only mean noting your sources; for teachers, it means being tidy when you pass resources to students or colleagues.
Common beginner mistakes
- Assuming “free” means “reusable”.
- Skipping the check for third-party content inside a resource.
- Collecting dozens of resources and using none.
- Forgetting to record where something came from.
If you start with one need, one source and one resource, and follow the steps above, you will quickly build a feel for what works. Outcomes and quality still vary, so expect to try a few resources before you find a good one.