This document discusses open educational resources (OER), noting their positive elements like being free, encouraging collaboration and sharing of information, and being adaptable. However, it also outlines challenges like OERs currently being in their infancy, difficulties sharing information, and confusion around ownership and citation of content. In conclusion, the author believes OERs have promise but still need more development before replacing most textbooks, though they can provide extra sources and potentially reduce some textbook needs.
2. Free:
Collegial: Creates a community of learning
Dynamic: Allows expedited updating and editing
Encourages Synthesis
Encourages Communication
Adaptable to most teaching situations
Controllable: Through licensing organizations like
Creative Commons
Positive Elements
3. Sharing of information can be cumbersome
Not very WISIWYG
Concept is still in its infancy; possibly a ‘toddler’ now
Limited search friendliness
Confusing rights of ownership, attribution
and/or citation
Negative Elements
4. I love the concept, but it needs to develop a bit
more before it will replace most textbooks.
In my case I have the luxury (or burden) of
creating a class from scratch, so I will definitely
use many OER resources.
I can see it as providing many extra sources for
information and possibly reducing the need for
some textbooks, especially if you are planning
on updating them anyway.
Summary: “It’s complicated”
