OER can improve student engagement and affordability while allowing self-paced learning, but using OER presents challenges. It requires significant time to find and maintain resources, and there is an inadequate number of accessible resources and varying levels of support. Proper licensing and citation of OER must also be considered.

1. BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES
OF USING OER
Linda Garner, PhD, RN
Associate Professor – Department of Nursing
Southeast Missouri State University

2. BENEFITS
OF OER• Can improve student engagement in the course
• Is responsive to the need for greater
affordability in higher education
• Offers students the opportunity to use the
course materials to remediate at their own pace
before or after the course
• Educators can reach a wider audience
• Educators can readily network with others who
share similar interests

3. CHALLENGES
OF OER• Requires considerable time to find and maintain
resources
• Inadequate number of resources that are
accessible to students with disabilities
• Varying levels of institutional and peer support
for contributions to OER and its use
• Making the right decisions about which
licensure option to select
• Mastering the correct citations of OER