Benefits and Challenges Benefits and Challenges of Using OER’sof Using OER’sAmy RovnerAmy Rovner

Benefit #1Benefit #1

FREE to studentsFREE to students Lowers cost as barrier to educationLowers cost as barrier to education

Benefit #2Benefit #2

Time Saver for InstructorsTime Saver for Instructors Likely faster than creating from scratchLikely faster than creating from scratch

Benefit #3Benefit #3

Share your work with the worldShare your work with the world OER’s are available to the public, not just OER’s are available to the public, not just

students paying tuitionstudents paying tuition

Benefit #4Benefit #4

Ease of Reusing MaterialsEase of Reusing Materials CC licensing saves time – no need to track CC licensing saves time – no need to track

down copyright holder to seek permission down copyright holder to seek permission

Benefit #5Benefit #5

Helps meet goal of Universal DesignHelps meet goal of Universal Design Access to a rich selection of materials in your Access to a rich selection of materials in your

subject area; includes audio, video, still photos, subject area; includes audio, video, still photos, graphs, lecture notes, etc.graphs, lecture notes, etc.

Enables instructor to include a variety of Enables instructor to include a variety of resources in the classroom to help meet needs resources in the classroom to help meet needs of all learnersof all learners

Challenge #1Challenge #1

Difficult to assess the quality of materialsDifficult to assess the quality of materials Instructor must evaluate each OER for quality; Instructor must evaluate each OER for quality;

no general standards in placeno general standards in place

Challenge #2Challenge #2

Creative Commons licensing can be confusingCreative Commons licensing can be confusing At first glance the variety of CC licenses can be At first glance the variety of CC licenses can be

overwhelming without any trainingoverwhelming without any training

Challenge #3Challenge #3

No research on effectiveness of OER No research on effectiveness of OER materials compared to traditional, published materials compared to traditional, published onesones

Challenge #4Challenge #4

Difficult to sift through all the OER Difficult to sift through all the OER Very time consuming to look through all that’s Very time consuming to look through all that’s

availableavailable

Challenge #5Challenge #5

Perception of Loss of ControlPerception of Loss of Control Instructors are protective of their work product Instructors are protective of their work product

and may fear loss of control if they put their and may fear loss of control if they put their work out as an OERwork out as an OER

Loss of financial gain from publishing Loss of financial gain from publishing knowledge and experienceknowledge and experience