OER 101: Benefits and Challenges of OER

1. WA SBCTC: OER 101
Naomi Kay
July 16, 2015
BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF
USING OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER)

2. • Costs to students is greatly reduced
• Ability to share, enhance current and compare course
curriculum
• Reduces time restrictions and allows optimal opportunities;
for example, “I need a quick x that will provide further insight
for topic x in class tonight and I do not have enough time to
create new material (video, handout, etc)
• Flexibility, similar to above: Furthermore the situation above
happens from class to class with different student groups, so
not all material is necessary every time the class is offered
BENEFITS OF OER

3. • Quality, knowledge of official material creation
• Limited supply, there is not material for all subjects
• Time sensitivity; for example, will material for technology based
courses be outdated the moment it is available?
• Governance & Sustainability, who manages material, checks for
accuracy and provides support?
• Materials Identification & Access, rigidity/restrictive or ‘open to
interpretation’ of how the materials are classified may prove to not
be as useful as they could be; for example, Business Technology
material may fall into Computer Technology or Business or other?...
CHALLENGES OF OER