A short presentation and review of the numerous benefits and challenges of Open Educational Resources. A introduction on why OER is a powerful tool. The good, the bad and the difficult. The ease, the struggle and the confidence. A

1. Exploring the Benefits and Challenges
of Open Educational Resources (OER)
Lars Antonsen
Skagit Valley College
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2. • Costs are Reduced
• Cost savings for learners
• Free or inexpensive copies of textbooks
• Institutional costs (tuition) can be reduced
• Institutional costs reduced (less classroom
and campus space required)
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3. • Can reach a broader audience
• Social and economic barriers can be reduced
• Education and learning can take precedence
over institutional financial gain. The class
system evidenced in education, job
opportunities, advancement and personal
growth can be reduced.
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4. • Roadblocks to continued education are
reduced for learners
• Availability of education is increased
• Physical location of institution not an issue
• Flexible schedule
• Learner friendly
• Can be paced to match learners abilities and
speed of learning
• Learners can explore a subject with little
commitment.
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5. • Creates better courses and can improve
the quality of instruction
• Helps you find creative methods of addressing
you subject
• Can breathe new life into your old stale course
• Allows you to find multiple methods of delivery
on a subject that cover different learning styles.
• Auditory, Visual and Kinesthetic
• Increases your ability to work on expanding
your own knowledge at your own pace in
within your time schedule.
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6. • Even more benefits!
• Course material can be referenced after course
completion for better retention.
• Easier for individuals and institutions to receive
recognition for their work and contributions to
the learning community.
• Allows for quick and responsive changes with
changing information.
• Community knowledge and peer review
creates better quality and more accurate
educational materials.
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7. • Quality Assurance
• Many on-line resources are available.
• Determination of quality is questionable.
• Quality of learning largely dependent upon the
motivation and ability of the learner.
• It is difficult to determine if the learner can
apply the knowledge (book smart vs. the
practical application)
• A lack of research that identifies the quality of
learning.
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8. • Sustainability of OER
• Maintenance of the OER system is dependent
upon:
• Continued contributions
• Updated material replacing outdated or
obsolete material.
• Contributors finding the motivation to remain
involved.
• Financial resources
• Community and educational institutions
providing support, both in time and
financially for course development.
• Adjunct pay for course development 8

9. • There is a lack of public and institutional
understanding about the benefits of OER
• Attitudes and assumptions about on-line education
and the role of self learning as it fits within
institutional education
• Quality
• Control
• Institutional finances
• Protection of jobs
• Protection of course ownership
• Shifting roles as an educator
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10. • Time
• Finding resources
• Sorting resources
• Evaluating resources
• Plentiful and multiple resources that cover broad
fields of interest.
• No single search source. Surfing resources eats
time.
• A plethora of basic resources and a diminished
amount of upper level resources
• Additional time required to build and provide
attributes
10"Time" by stefanos papachristou is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

11. • Resources are growing
• Many universities have made their courses
publically available.
• Your work will be identified and you will receive
recognition
• No worries about copyright infringement
• Allowances are modifications are made and are
easily identifiable.
• Compare and contrast your work with peers.
• Feel confident that you have addressed your
subject and coursework clearly!
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