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Selecting Websites and Other Online Materials for Your Collection

While digital materials are quickly becoming the learning tool of choice for many users, their inclusion in your curriculum can present some challenges.  When selecting learning materials of this kind, it is important to bear in mind:

• Quality: as for other learning materials, convenience should not trump quality.  As a rule of thumb, you should prefer materials from known, authoritative authors and publishers who meet your standards of quality.
• Stability: will the URL for the resource remain stable ("persistent")?  Will the content change or disappear?
• Respect for copyright: respect copyright laws and licensing provisions attached to the material.
• Availability of supporting network infrastructure: does use of the material require a high-end computer, extra plug-ins or software, or substantial bandwidth?
• Accessibility: the material should be accessible to users with a variety of conditions, e.g., visual impairments.
• Cost: free, once-only or ongoing, such as a license fee?

Following is a list of websites and learning object repositories (i.e., libraries of reusable online learning resources) that catalogue high-quality, recommended digital resources.  Some require free registration.