TO OER or NOT TO OER?

That is the question.

Benefits of OER

Its free! And who doesn’t like free. This actually means reduced costs for students which ultimately can mean reduced

student debt upon graduation and possibly less loan defaults.

Benefits of OER cont.

Course materials can be accessed from any place at any time.

Benefits of OER cont.

Course material is available to instructors and students that would previously only been available to students at elite universities such as MIT or Carnegie Mellon

Benefits of OER cont.

Provides the opportunity for students to access information outside of what is presented in the class.

Benefits of OER cont.

Students can revisit and remediate at anytime to aid in retention of material for future courses.

Challenges of OER

Is the information presented high quality and up to date?

Challenges of OER cont.

When information is out there, it is out there whether it is correct or not or up to date or not.

Challenges of OER cont.

Will the funding that is available now be available in the future?

Challenges of OER cont.

An understanding by faculty of the benefits and a change in attitude about intellectual property rights.

Challenges of OER cont.

The use of OER is a cultural change for both faculty and students.

To OER or Not To OER?

That is still the question.

However, I think the benefits now and in the future will out weigh the challenges.