Before you start writing…

You may be excited to dive into writing your OER. You may be overwhelmed by the prospect of the large scope of the work. Or maybe you’re somewhere in between.

No matter how you’re feeling as you think about your OER project, VIVA has some suggestions for things to consider as you plan and begin your work:

• Break the work into smaller steps to make it feel more manageable. Maybe this means separating the work by chapter or assigning one person to write all the learning objectives. Regardless or how you chunk up the work, smaller pieces to create makes it easier to cross something off your list, making it feel like you’re accomplishing something and making in roads on creating your OER. Because we promise you are!
• Set deadlines. Consider adding a deadline for each small step to keep you accountable and the work moving forward. Deadlines also tie in well with chunking up the work to make it feel more manageable.
• Complete the Structuring and Outlining Activity if you haven’t already. This activity will help you create an outline, giving you a full picture of the work and making sure all elements are consistent. The resultant outline could also help guide you in how best to break up the work.
• Consider accessibility from the start. It is much easier to integrate accessibility into your work as you create, whether that’s using heading styles or creating alt-text as you go, than remediate later. Review the accessibility guidance [coming soon!] for considerations and steps you can take.
• Consider inclusive teaching from the start. Another item that’s easier to include than add in later. Review the guidance [coming soon!] for considerations and steps you can take.
• Don’t worry about final presentation as you’re authoring. Thinking about what platform you’re going to use and features like what colors you’ll use can come later. For now, work on developing the content. After the content is created, you can see what presentation best matches the work you’ve created and what features you’ll need to ensure your work is most impactful.
• Take advantage of VIVA support. We have staffing, publishing services, and platforms that are there to help make your work easier. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or take advantage of the services offered through VIVA Open Publishing.