For OER and Copyright 101 course- WA SBCTC OER ProfTech project Licensed under CC-BY 4.0

1. Using Open Educational
Resources: The Pros and
Cons
DR. KATIE BAKER- JANUARY 2022- OER PROFTECH PROJECT

2. FIVE BENEFITS
OF USING OER
Using Open Education Resources: The Pros and Cons- Dr. Katie Baker
OER is sharing by Giulia Forsythe Public Domain

3. FIVE benefits of
using OER- #1
• REDUCED
COSTS LEAD TO
IMPROVED
EQUITY
Using Open Education Resources: The Pros and Cons- Dr. Katie Baker

4. FIVE benefits of using
OER- #2
• Diversity of choice-
More materials are
developed worldwide,
which means you have a
lot more choices than
just using a textbook
from one of the two
main publishers.
Using Open Education Resources: The Pros and Cons- Dr. Katie Baker
Books by John Kannenberg is licensed by CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0

5. FIVE benefits of
using OER- #3
• Mix ‘n’ match-
Instructors can blend
information from
multiple sources.
Using Open Education Resources: The Pros and Cons- Dr. Katie Baker
Blender by Joffre Bricks, all rights reserved

6. FIVE benefits of using
OER- #4
• No reuse or copyright
concerns- OER is
available for use to
anyone without
worrying about licensing
or copyright laws or fees
Using Open Education Resources: The Pros and Cons- Dr. Katie Baker
Recycling by Chris, licensed under CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0

7. FIVE benefits of
using OER- #5
• Ongoing development of
OER lends itself to stronger
peer review, professional
development and
improvement by the authors.
Using Open Education Resources: The Pros and Cons- Dr. Katie Baker
Peereview by Ron Mader, licensed under CC-BY 2.0

8. Challenges of
OER and
Solutions
Using Open Education Resources: The Pros and Cons- Dr. Katie Baker

9. FIVE challenges of using OER- #1
 OER might not be continually updated- if it’s part of a funded project,
updating may not occur after funding runs out. This can be addressed by
adding funding for updates or using the material as a springboard for course
development while including more updated materials.
Using Open Education Resources: The Pros and Cons- Dr. Katie Baker

10. FIVE challenges of using OER- #2
 OER might have accessibility issues. This can be fixed because you can edit
OER to improve accessibility
Using Open Education Resources: The Pros and Cons- Dr. Katie Baker

11. FIVE challenges of using OER- #3
 Misunderstandings around the idea of intellectual property- Individuals might
think that OER is a form of intellectual property theft or be misinformed about
Creative Commons licensure, but this can be overcome with education (like
our modules)
Using Open Education Resources: The Pros and Cons- Dr. Katie Baker

12. FIVE challenges of using OER- #4
 Faculty may have difficulty finding time to vet OER for quality and subject
coverage. This can be overcome by having a special stipend or grant for
evaluating OER on behalf of your department or specialty.
Using Open Education Resources: The Pros and Cons- Dr. Katie Baker

13. FIVE challenges of using OER- #5
 Departments may require uniformity in materials, preventing faculty from
using OER that differs from the department-specified texts. This may be due
to misunderstandings or misconceptions about quality, intellectual property,
or just preference by key decision-makers. Education about OER and time to
vet materials may solve this challenge.
Using Open Education Resources: The Pros and Cons- Dr. Katie Baker