BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER)By Larry Strizich

BENEFITS

Provides some level of protection by using Creative Commons licensing

Otherwise work would require being published to ensure ethical and appropriate use

Allows a resource to add to the ‘Bag of Tricks’ needed by instructors

Potentially lower cost to students Especially when students become able to use electronic texts

without printing

BENEFITS

Open free coursework may provide a valuable resource for students to support courses they may be taking for credit

Another viewpoint or method may turn the trick for learning Potential for collaboration with peers throughout the world –

leading to an improved course.

CHALLENGES

Faculty buy-in is an issue. Some faculty have spent years – some decades developing the

course materials they use. Losing control of that intellectual product is a concern

OER Resources are not available in every discipline – the paucity of quality OER materials in non-supported areas will inhibit participation

As previously mentioned in the course – the inability to revoke licensure using a common commons license is problematic

CHALLENGES

Many learners need the tactile nature traditional course materials – shifting the burden of production from traditional publishing houses to local printing

Some of the coursework available has a significant amount of lab/hands-on work.

Although online resources are tremendous, the equipment, supplies, and expertise for support are not insignificant and give an unrealistic impression of the course being available for free.

Although coursework is available, there is no credential or verification of learning – a student who takes an open course would need to find another way to get a recognized credential.