1.
OPEN
EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCES
Benefits and Challenges of OER
Jesse O’Hern | Winter 2023 | OER 101
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.

2.
WHAT IS OER?
The term “Open Educational Resource(s)” (OER) refers to
educational resources (lesson plans, quizzes, syllabi,
instructional modules, simulations, etc.) that are freely
available for use, reuse, adaptation, and sharing.
The Wikieducator OER Handbook, CC-BY
2023 OER: Benefits and Challenges 2

3.
BENEFITS
AFFORDABLE
OERs are free or with minimal costs
involved eliminating financial burdens
to students and educators
ACCESSIBLE
OERs can be accessed at anytime,
from any place with an internet
connection without time restrictions
UP-TO-DATE
OERs can be updated and improved
quickly to stay current with modern
knowledge
CUSTOMIZABLE
OERs can be adapted and modified to
fit learning needs and support
curriculum
ENHANCEMENT
OERs can be used to supplement
current curriculum presenting material
in multiple formats increasing
comprehension
2023 OER: Benefits and Challenges 3

4.
CHALLENGES
2023 OER: Benefits and Challenges 4
TEDIOUS
OERs are widely available and the
amount to examine is overwhelming
and exhausting
ACCESSIBILITY
OERs are usually accessed online
limiting availability in rural areas or
those with poor internet connections
AVAILABILITY
OERs may be difficult to find for
specific subjects or multiple avenues
must be pursued to find relevant
material
QUALITY
OERs can be unreliable as material is
created by any user that wishes to
publish resulting in material that may
not always be accurate or current
OPERATION
OERs, while widely available, are
difficult to implement with industries or
schools that are unfamiliar with them

5.
NOTE
As with any educational resource, there are both benefits and
challenges with implementing them. OERs provide free
materials for the education world. Through creative common
licenses, educators can copy, use, adapt, and redistribute
OERs. It is important to understand the protections these
licenses serve before using OERs in your course. Find out
more at CreativeCommons.org.
The above icons are from “About the Licenses”
by Creative Commons is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
2023 OER: Benefits and Challenges 5

6.
OPEN
EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCES
Benefits and Challenges of OER
Jesse O’Hern | Winter 2023 | OER 101
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.