Open Educational Resources Pros and Cons

BY: ROBIN GREENE – WALLA WALLA COMMUNITY COLLEGECOPYRIGHT CC BY NC SA

OER 101 Robin Greene 05/01/2023

OER• Definition: Open licenses and

free or low cost educational resources and materials developed and shared in research and development, for instruction and students, companies and training, and many other uses. • Opinion: The Web was

designed to share freely. Knowledge should not be held in a box, let’s share it!

Click on image for resource location. Owner:

Libguides.Brooklyn.cuy.edu Copy right

OER 101 Robin Greene 05/01/2023

Uses of OERPROS

• Affordable• Freedom to Customize• Growing Resources• Anyone can contribute• Anyone can use the

resource.

CONS

• Time to find what you want/need• Knowledge to modify to

needs• Quality• 404 Error – Can’t find

server• Need Internet access

OER 101 Robin Greene 05/01/2023

Pro - Affordable

2006 2009 2012 20150

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Commercial OER Average

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, college textbook costs have risen 88% since 2006.• So if a book cost $100

dollars in 2006, that same book costs $188 now• Where the cost of OER is

minimal and declining with more connectivity.

OER 101 Robin Greene 05/01/2023

PRO - Freedom to Customize• Some OER materials will fit

perfectly with current curriculum.• Most materials will need to be

“FIXED” to work within your own class.• Most OER materials licensing

allow you to do just thatClick on image for resource

location. Owner: Jokai Sianghio

Modified by cropping - Copy right

OER 101 Robin Greene 05/01/2023

Pro – The Last 3• Growing Resources• More and more individuals and parties are contributing• More technology and accessibility are available• Anyone can contribute• Professionals, retired specialists, educators, classes,

institutions, companies…• Anyone can use the resource• The list is endless…

OER 101 Robin Greene 05/01/2023

Cons – First Two• Time to find what you want/need• For help see video at right• Knowledge of customization to fit your needs• This is a technical obstacle. • Many times one is required to learn

several tools to make EVERYTHING work and flow as needed.

OER 101 Robin Greene 05/01/2023

Con - Quality• Unlike publishers who monitor the quality of there product, there is very little monitoring for quality assurance.• Anyone can provide a resource.• Several hundred rules or criteria have been collected and they are available for a structural approach to creating quality OER if creators care to follow these criteria. Most do, but there is very little over sight.• Who will keep the resources updated? – Still many ?s

OER 101 Robin Greene 05/01/2023

Cons – Last Two404 ERROR – CAN’T FIND SERVER

• Links are no longer available• Power outages• Weather• Construction• Connectivity

NEED INTERNET ACCESS

Click on image for resource location.

Owner: Paul Lloyd Modified by

cropping CC BY SA NC Copy right