The benefits and challenges of OER.

1. Open Educational
Resources
• Benefits and Challenges
Valri Bieniek, Ph.D.
SB eLearning
OER, Winter 2014

2. Open Educational Resources
Benefits of Using OER –
Benefits and
Challenges of
Using OER
•
Access to the use of resources without constraint of copyright
restrictions
•
Enhanced potential for access to learning resources (different from
above) – opens avenues to material to which one may not have
previously been aware -or- may not have had permission to access.
•
Expands opportunities for collaboration of resources with others in
your institution, as well as the global community (particularly those
for whom monetary considerations may have provided a hindrance to
acquiring/sharing resources)
•
A playground for creative engagement through adaptation and
revision of the original works of others
•
Feeling of being part of an educational community with a shared goal
– to spread the “love” of learning through a variety of medium
Valri Bieniek, Ph.D.
SB eLearning
OER, Winter 2014

3. Open Educational Resources
Challenges of OER –
Benefits and
Challenges of
Using OER
•
Plethora of “open” licenses requires careful monitoring (and a flow chart)
before incorporation into your portfolio of resources
•
Depending on the source, licensing may change prior to the launch of
your project requiring a HUGE recalibration in your workflow
•
The “EXACT” resource that you need may not be found, or may require
such a lengthy search that you may decide it would be easier to just
create it on your own (assuming you can!).
•
Again, depending on the resource, actually accessing the material and
repurposing it may become a “rabbit hole” exercise. For example, the
content may be in parts (not the whole) or in a media format that requires
•
The nagging feeling(once you’re well into committing your time and
resources) that you should have organized a comprehensive database of
your resources and their access points as well as compiled a list of OER
sites of opportunity that fit your needs.
Valri Bieniek, Ph.D.
SB eLearning
OER, Winter 2014

4. Open Educational
Resources
Summary of Benefits and Challenges of OER –
•
•
By Blink Tower (Why Open Education Matters ([ WebCite archive])) [CC-BY-3.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Exponential opportunity to join a global community of learners in
consuming, designing, and adapting resources for the common
good.
Nothing in life is truly free! Pay attention to the ‘use’ guidelines.
•
Pay it forward – create and donate to the public domain. Someone
may be looking for just the thing you have thoughtfully provided!
Valri Bieniek, Ph.D.
SB eLearning
OER, Winter 2014