What Is MERLOT?

Updated

MERLOT (merlot.org) is a curated online learning resource collection and international community for educators, learners, and researchers. It provides access to peer-reviewed learning materials, content creation tools, and community features. According to the site, joining and using the platform is free, and it currently hosts 111,556 learning resources with 226,437 registered members across 4,446 member institutions.

What MERLOT Offers

MERLOT serves two main purposes: finding quality educational materials and connecting with a community of educators.

Learning Resources

The collection contains curated online learning and support materials. You can browse by academic discipline or search directly. Disciplines include:

  • Arts
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Sciences
  • Humanities
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Science and Technology
  • Social Sciences
  • Workforce Development

Beyond standard materials, the collection also includes learning exercises, bookmark collections, course ePortfolios, and peer reviews.

Community Features

MERLOT describes itself as an international community of educators, learners, and researchers. Community elements include:

  • Academic Discipline Communities and Academic Support Communities
  • Virtual Speakers Bureau
  • Peer Reviews of submitted materials
  • Member Institutions and Academic/Industry Partners

Content Creation Tools

MERLOT provides Content Builder, which the site describes as a tool for building accessible, scalable, multi-page websites entirely for free. A video tutorial is available. You can also create course ePortfolios and add materials to the collection.

How to Get Started

  1. Sign up for a free account using the Sign Up link on the homepage.
  2. Search or browse the collection by discipline or use the advanced search options for materials or members.
  3. Add a material you've found or created to the MERLOT Collection.
  4. Create multi-page websites with Content Builder.
  5. Join communities aligned with your academic discipline or support interests.

Key Numbers at a Glance

Metric Count
Learning Resources 111,556
Registered Members 226,437
Member Institutions 4,446

Who It's For

MERLOT is designed for educators, learners, and researchers who want to find curated teaching and learning materials, contribute their own resources, or connect with peers across disciplines and institutions. The platform is led by an international community and, per the site, free to join and use.