OERMaking Sense of It

By Carole Eustice

Carole Eustice

The Pros

Expanded access to learning

Enhanced course content

Lower costs to students Links

Carole Eustice

The Pros

Lower costs to students

The use of OERs instead of traditional textbooks or course packs, can substantially reduce the cost of course materials for students.

Carole Eustice

The Pros

Enhanced course content

Presenting information in multiple formats may help students to more easily learn the material being taught.

Carole Eustice

The Pros

Expanded Access to Learning

Students anywhere in the world can access OERs at any time, and they can access the material repeatedly.

Carole Eustice

More Pros

Promote Collaboration and Participation Spur Innovation

By introducing new alternatives for effective teaching.

two key elements of a Web 2.0 approach to teaching and learning.

Carole Eustice

The Cons

Intellectual property and copyright concernsSustainability issues

Technological issues

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Carole Eustice

The Cons

Intellectual property and copyright concerns

Since OERs are meant to be shared openly, the “fair use” exemption from the U.S. Copyright Act ceases to apply; all content put online must be checked to ensure that it doesn’t violate copyright law..

Carole Eustice

The Cons

Sustainability issues

Since OER creators generally do not receive any type of payment for their OER, there may be little incentive for them to update their OER or to ensure that it will continue to be available online.

Carole Eustice

The Cons

Technological issues

Some students may have trouble using some OERs if they have slow or erratic internet connections. Other OERs may require software that students don’t have and that they may not be able to afford.

Carole Eustice

More ConsDepends largely on discipline resources

Flip side to its flexibility

Some have fewer than othersHeld to same or harsher curriculum standards

Carole Eustice

OER Makes Sense!