1. B E N E F I T S & C H A L L E N G E S
USING OER
2. BENEFITS
• Can significantly reduce cost of course for students
• Can provide more current information in rapidly
developing fields than most textbooks
• Materials are developed primarily by instructors
• Can be adapted to individual instructor’s or course’s
requirements or students’ needs
• Provides inspiration for creation and/or development of
instructor’s own material
• Enables instructors to broaden their influence beyond
the students registered in their courses
3. CHALLENGES
• Search and adaptation may well require extensive time
and effort (read: cost) for instructor
• Information in materials may not be well-researched or
validated
• Materials are developed primarily by instructors
• Inconsistent quality
• Minimal materials in some topic areas
• Attribution, checking licensing, etc. can be frustrating
and time-consuming
• Potential lack of sustainability
