The document outlines the benefits and challenges of open educational resources (OER). The benefits are that OER provide peace of mind by ensuring materials are licensed, allow students to preview materials, showcase research widely, provide social and educational opportunities for all, and enhance a university's reputation. The challenges are the non-revocable nature of Creative Commons licenses, lack of public understanding, needing continual funding to sustain OER, determining the quality of OER-based classes, and assessing the quality of OER.

2. THE BENEFITS OF OER
1. Peace of Mind
All materials are licensed, so there is
no need to worry about breaking copyright
laws

3. THE BENEFITS OF OER
2. Allows students to check out material
before the course begins
Students will have a better idea of
whether they are interested in taking the
course based on their review of the
material.

4. THE BENEFITS OF OER
3. Showcases research to widest audience
possible
It’s all about access and spreading the
word

5. THE BENEFITS OF OER
4. Social Responsibility
Using OER provides educational
opportunities for all individuals

6. BENEFITS OF OER
5. Enhances a university’s reputation
OER is cutting edge, and the university
is viewed as progressive

7. CHALLENGES TO OER
1. Non-Revocable Nature of Creative
Commons Licenses
Once an individual’s work is out
there, it is forever accessible and usable to
those who are in possession of it.

8. CHALLENGES TO OER
2. Lack of Public Understanding
That which people do not understand,
they tend to distrust.

9. CHALLENGES TO OER
3. Sustainability of OER
Continual need to keep OER funded

10. CHALLENGES TO OER
4. Quality Assurance
Is a class using OER just as good as a
class using traditional materials? How
can this be determined?

11. CHALLENGES OF OER
5. Quality Assurance
Can teachers judge the quality of
resources?