Open educational resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that are freely available online for anyone to use, adapt and share. OER include full courses, textbooks, modules, videos and other materials. There are several advantages to using OER, such as reducing costs for students, increasing accessibility of educational resources worldwide, and allowing for customization and incorporation of updated content. However, some disadvantages include the effort required to evaluate and validate large volumes of OER materials, lack of funds to support ongoing updates and maintenance, and potential issues with attribution, copyright and access to technology for disadvantaged students.

1. Open Educational Resources
(OER)
SBCTC OER 101 – Fall Cohort 1
Robin Ennis-Cantwell

2. What is “Open Education?”
– A growing body of shared educational resources
built on the principle that
1. Today’s technology makes it possible to share
information and knowledge around the world
and,
2. It is in the interest of human development to
share information and education as much and
as widely as possible.

3. What is an Open Education
Resource (OER)?
• The resource is shared under an open license or resides
in the public domain

4. What are Open Educational Resources?
• Shared content and resources
– Full courses
– Textbooks
– Modules
– Lessons/lesson plans
– Tests
– Videos
– Supplemental study materials
– Software

5. Advantages
• Cost savings on Textbooks
– Levels the field for disadvantaged students
– Promotes sustainability
• Resource Rich
– Access to leading experts worldwide
– Experience/incorporate diversity of views
• Flexibility
– Customize curriculum and instructional design
– Quickly incorporate important updates (STEM)

6. Advantages (Cont.)
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
– Accommodate disabilities
– Address learning styles
– Foster engagement
– Integrate current, relevant, authentic content

7. Disadvantages
• Complications in Curriculum Development
– Volume of material to evaluate/validate
– Lack of funds/compensation
– No responsibility to update original materials
– No process to notify users of updates/changes to foundation materials
• Attribution Issues
– Lack of knowledge on open licensing process
– Materials improperly cited
– Inadvertent copyright violation

8. Disadvantages (cont.)
• Slow/limited Conversion to OER Participation
– Resistance to Change
– Fear of loss of right-to-benefit
– No mechanism to revoke permission
– Discomfort with technology
• Student Access to Technology
– Disadvantaged student population
– Digital down-and-out

9. Open Educational Resources Power Point by Robin EnnisCantwell is licensed under a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.