A basic illustration of benefits and challenges.

1. THE BENEFITS AND
CHALLENGES OF USING OER
BY WILL SCOTT
ATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL 4.0 INTERNATIONAL (CC BY-NC
4.0)

2. BENEFITS OF USING OER
• Cost: Textbook costs are
rising at an unsustainable
rate. OER provides a good
alternative to traditional texts
for cost.
• Adaptability: OER with proper
licensing allows instructors to
modify and customize
materials to meet their and
the student's needs.
• Professional Development:
Faculty have the opportunity
to continue to improve as
professionals by creating and
sharing materials with their
peers.
• Equity: Free materials help to
close opportunity gaps that
are a barrier to student
success.

3. BENEFITS OF USING OER, CONT'D
• Variety: OER offers more than
just textbooks. There are
instructional materials,
presentation aids, activities,
exercises, etc. readily
available to be adapted to
individual courses.

4. CHALLENGES OF USING OER
• Quality of Materials: There is
a great range in the quality of
materials available. While
there is high quality materials
available, there are also
highly questionable quality
materials.
• Permanence: Creative
Commons licenses are
permanent and irrevocable.
• Accessibility: Instructional
Materials need to be
accessible so that every
student regardless of
learning ability can use the
materials. Unfortunately,
many OER are not created
using accessible formats.
• Economic Impact: the use of
free OER can impact campus
bookstores and the students

5. CHALLENGES OF USING OER, CONT'D
• Lack of understanding of the
nature and value of OER: As
OER are relatively new to the
educational landscape there
is a lack of understanding
about what they are, how
they are licensed, and the
role they can play in
education.