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AI for OER Discovery: Prompt Templates for an OER Search

Educators

The following prompt template has been designed to produce consistent results and apply across disciplines for educators seeking OER for course design. It does require responsible input relevant to your course/desired outputs. It has been edited and refined by ChatGPT. 

 

Prompt template

I am a [your position or role] at a [type of institution, e.g., public university, community college], and I am in the process of designing or updating a course in [field or subject area]. 

The course is intended for [undergraduate/graduate/lower-division/upper-division/general education] students. The course covers topics such as [brief course description], and supports the following generalized learning outcomes:

  • [Learning Outcome #1]

  • [Learning Outcome #2]

  • [Learning Outcome #3]

  • etc.

I am looking for high-quality open educational resources (OER) available in OER databases, repositories, or publisher platforms that are:

  • Focused on [relevant subject or topic]

  • Preferably published [within the last X years]

  • Provided in the format of [preferred format(s): e.g., full textbooks, modular readings, multimedia, assignments, etc.]

  • Suitable for the academic level of this course

Relevant keywords include: [discipline-specific keywords, topics, jargon, concepts and terms]

Include in your report a convenient list of links to recommended resources. 

Optional: I would prefer resources that are:

  • Designed with [specific accessibility needs: screen-reader compatibility, closed captioning, mobile-friendly, etc.]

  • Published under [preferred Creative Commons license(s)] to allow for modification, redistribution, or commercial use, if needed

 

Example

I am a professor at a public university designing a new upper-level course in International Humanitarian Law.

The course is intended for senior-level undergraduates studying political science, international relations, or pre-law. The course introduces students to the legal frameworks governing armed conflict, the protection of civilians, and the responsibilities of state and non-state actors under international law. It supports the following learning outcomes:

  • Explain the principles and sources of International Humanitarian Law, including the Geneva Conventions
  • Analyze real-world cases involving violations of IHL and international legal responses
  • Evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of enforcement mechanisms within international institutions

I am looking for open educational resources (OER) available in databases, repositories, or publisher platforms that:

  • Cover foundational and advanced topics in IHL, including legal statutes, case law, and contemporary applications
  • Were published within the last 5–7 years
  • Are available in the format of textbooks, legal commentaries, case studies, or multimedia (e.g., lecture videos or interactive simulations)
  • Are appropriate for senior undergraduate students preparing for graduate study or professional fields

Relevant keywords include: international humanitarian law, laws of armed conflict, Geneva Conventions, war crimes, international legal frameworks

Optional: I would prefer resources that are accessible for screen readers and include multimedia with closed captions, and that are published under Creative Commons licenses allowing adaptation, such as CC BY or CC BY-SA.

 

OpenAI. (2025). Template prompt for locating OER scholarly sources across disciplines (May 21 version) [Large language model response]. Retrieved from ChatGPT. https://chat.openai.com/

Students

The following prompt template has been designed to produce consistent results and apply across disciplines for students seeking OER to use in their research. It does require responsible input relevant to your course/desired outputs. It has been edited and refined by ChatGPT. 

 

Prompt template

I am working on a [type of assignment] (e.g., research paper, literature review, annotated bibliography) for my [subject or field of study] course. My topic focuses on [brief description of your topic or research question], specifically exploring [key concepts, themes, or issues].

Please help me locate open educational resources (OER)—such as scholarly articles, peer-reviewed papers, eBooks, or academic chapters—that are relevant to this topic. Ideally, these sources should:

  • Be published by reputable academic or educational institutions

  • Be freely accessible and openly licensed for educational use

  • Address or support [your topic or research question plus unique perspectives]

  • Be appropriate for a [undergraduate/graduate/introductory/advanced] academic level

I need sources that are [include any special parameters: recent (e.g., post-2015), include case studies, have data or empirical evidence, come from interdisciplinary perspectives, etc.]

  

Example

I am working on a research paper for my Sociology course. My topic focuses on digital inequality, specifically exploring the impact of internet access on education outcomes.
Please help me locate open educational resources—such as scholarly articles or eBooks—that are relevant to this topic. Ideally, these sources should:

  • Be published by reputable academic or educational institutions

  • Be freely accessible and openly licensed for educational use

  • Address or support the connection between socioeconomic status and digital access in urban areas

  • Be appropriate for an undergraduate academic level
    Optional: I would prefer sources that include case studies or recent U.S.-based research.

 

OpenAI. (2025). Template prompt for locating OER scholarly sources across disciplines (May 21 version) [Large language model response]. Retrieved from ChatGPT. https://chat.openai.com/