Sharing Ideas: MERLOT
MERLOT is a leading-edge, user-centered, searchable collection of peer reviewed and selected higher education, online learning materials, catalogued by registered members and a set of faculty development support services. MERLOT's vision is to be a premiere online community where faculty, staff, and students from around the world share their learning materials and pedagogy.
MERLOT's strategic goal is to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning by increasing the quantity and quality of peer reviewed online learning materials that can be easily incorporated into faculty designed courses.
MERLOT’s activities are based on the creative collaboration and support of Individual Members, Institutional Partners, Corporate Partners and Editorial Boards. Integral to MERLOT’s continuing development of faculty development support services are its commitment to building and sustaining online academic communities, online teaching and learning initiatives, and building, organizing, reviewing, and developing applications of online teaching-learning materials.
MERLOT maintains its currency through ongoing and continuing communication with its worldwide supporters in a variety of ways, including the annual MERLOT International Conference, the Journal of Online Learning and Teaching (JOLT), member publications, news, and our new Voices website to enable MERLOT users to communication with others.
Some features of MERLOT:
MERLOT tutorials
Gerry Hanley, Executive Director of MERLOT, produced eight tutorials on the effective use of MERLOT to locate resources, connect with people, and becoming a member.
About the collection
This archive is more than a repository, with 11 different types of materials, many with assignments and comments attached, and author snapshots. Materials are peer reviewed, and in searches the most highly regarded appear first.
Peer review process
The process follows that of scholarship, and is performed by faculty. It is led by Editors and includes Editorial Board members in each discipline. The process has three stages: cursory review or “triage,” intensive review, and report of evaluation.
Levels of membership
The archive functions through collaboration of individual members, institutional partners, corporate partners, and editorial boards.
Faculty development
Professional development of faculty is a critical strategic initiative for MERLOT, and provides training in the use of MERLOT and technology to support learning.
Online communities
Community portals are categorized by discipline and program areas.
Initiatives
There are a number of higher education initiatives that MERLOT supports.
MERLOT annual conference
Conference attendees come from all discipline areas and range from novice to expert in development of online resources.
Journal of Online Teaching and Learning (JOLT)
This peer reviewed online publication addresses scholarly use of multimedia resources in education, and is published quarterly.
News on MERLOT
This compilation of late breaking news, press releases, the Grapevine Newsletter, videos and member publications is a helpful resource for busy educators.
MERLOT voices
This community networking site invites participation in discussions and forums.
MERLOT Resources
Who We Are:
History of MERLOT, MERLOT Communities, Editorial Boards, Editor’s Council, Project Directors, MERLOT Partners, Member Directory, MERLOT Staff.
How to Get Involved:
Become a Member, Peer Reviewer, Virtual Speaker.
Faculty Development:
Personal Collections, Increase Technology Use by Faculty, Jumpstart Your CV, Support Materials.
MERLOT Programs and Projects:
COMPASS, Community Development, KEEP, ELIXR, GLOBE, Institutional Teaching Commons, Learning Management Systems, Learning Material Development Initiative, MERLOT Technologies, Open Textbooks Project.
MERLOT Awards:
Exemplary Learning Materials, Service to MERLOT, Application of MERLOT.
Media Center:
Late Breaking News, Press Releases, Newsletters, JOLT, MERLOT Presentations, MERLOT Publications, Marketing Materials, MERLOT Videos and Podcasts.
Personal Collections:
This is a way to personalize MERLOT for members, by compiling their own lists of teaching materials based on a theme, from a particular author, or around a particular class.
Frequently Asked Questions:
These common inquiries include logistics about login, ways to become a MERLOT partner, and ways to address problems with technology .
