This slide show highlights some of the benefits and challenges of using OER

1. Benefits and Challenges of OER
By Kay Rutherford
Seattle Central College
November 2019

2. Benefits of OER
Affordability and Cost
 The cost of textbooks has surpassed the rate of inflation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
report shares that from 2006 to 2016 textbook costs have increased 88%.
Access and Availability
 Open Educational Resources allows students to access course materials without the
concerns associated with costs and availability. Barriers related to financial aid or waiting for
funds to purchase books are diminished or decreased due to access, availability and
affordability.
Augmentation and Customizable
 Open Education Resources allows course material to be customized to meet the needs of
student learning. Supplemental information can Videos, games, text, and interactive media
can be incorporated.
Kay Rutherford, Seattle Central College, OER 2019
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3. Benefits of OER
Continuous Improvement
 OER can be updated, edited, and adapted to meet the learning objectives.
Circulation
 OER have quick availability to increase timeliness and relevance based on the course material
being presented.
 Textbook updates are often on a 2 year cycle and what is happening now is not always
captured for relevance.

4. Challenges of OER
Quality Assurance
 Some OER are selected based on the discretion of faculty
 Not all OER are vetted
 OER may not be updated or current
Time Commitment
 It takes time to find appropriate information and sources.
Ancillary Resources
 Some OER don’t include resources to support ancillary information.
 The ancillary resources can support student learning, as well as, support instructors who are
new to teach or were assigned the course days before it is scheduled to be taught.

5. Challenges of OER
Measure Assessment and Data
 Efficacy of analytics and assessment of OER material to measure learning. Some OER materials
don’t have the assessment and data metrics integrated like publisher produced materials.
Language and Cultural Barriers
 Not all open resources are available in multiple languages. This limits use for non-English
speaking students or learners.
 Some OER material is not culturally appropriate for all audience.