Open Education Resources:

Some Pros and ConsKim McHenry

What are Open Education Resources (OER)?

• Open Education Resources (OER) are “high-quality teaching, learning, and research materials that are free for people everywhere to use and repurpose.”

Source: http://www.hewlett.org/strategy/open-educational-resources/#overview

Why OER is Useful• Saves Students Money• Increasing Accessibility for Those with Learning Disabilities and Other

Challenges• Allows for Peer-Review of Materials• Ease of Use of Materials • Information is Shared with a Large AudienceSource: The content of this training is from How to Use Open Educational Resources training by SBCTC, CC BY 4.0 

Some Challenges to Using OER• We must not assume that all OER sources are of high quality.• Once we post our work, what is already in use cannot be revoked. • Not all OER materials are accessible (for those with learning disabilities and other

challenges).• There are some who feel that OER sources provide a potential threat to their

economic/academic interests.• There are some funding issues with OER, which may potentially impact future

accessibility.

• Source: The content of this training is from How to Use Open Educational Resources training by SBCTC, CC BY 4.0 

Conclusion

• Each potential user of OER will need to determine if the benefits will outweigh the challenges for them personally.