The document discusses the benefits and challenges of open educational resources (OER). The key benefits are that OER allow students to save money on textbooks, access targeted information both before and after courses, and review materials from a variety of sources. OER also enable peer review of materials and increase the availability of educational content in different formats and from around the world. However, challenges include the time needed to create and curate quality OER, ensuring the accuracy and proper licensing of content, sustaining OER over the long term, and preventing overwhelmed users due to the large volume of available materials.

1. The Benefits and Challenges of
OER
Created by Jasmine Balasa

2. What are the
BENEFITS?
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

3. Students benefit the most!
Save LOTS of money on textbooks and materials
Be given targeted information from broad to specific
Have homework help from outside resources in all mediums
Review materials before and after a course
 This helps them choose the right courses for themselves
and they retain more information afterwards
They are able to…

4. Allows for peer review
When looking at other’s materials, or other people view yours, it is possible to
see if they have given correct information and properly licensed it. If not, it will
be edited by the community.

5. Increases available materials
ANYBODY can create and license materials from all over the world which
gives access to different learning styles
All mediums can be accessed including:
 Textbooks
 Modules
 Pictures
 Videos
 and more!

6. Mix-and-Match Materials
• Create your own materials
• Use any OER materials
• Edit OER materials and combine it with your own (check licensing first!)

7. Peace of Mind
Have you ever worried about using materials that are copyrighted
during an observation?
• No longer will you need to!With OER all materials are copyrighted and as long as you
give proper credit, your materials are free to use.

8. What are the
CHALLENGES?

9. Time Consuming
Creating materials to share can take up much time depending if you are
creating it from scratch (especially if you are working in a specific field) or
taking OER materials and adding your own information to it (with proper
licensing).

10. Quality assurance
Although materials are able to easily be peer reviewed, there is too much
material to constantly sift through. Just because something is shared does not
mean that it contains 100% correct information or is properly licensed. It is up
to the user to determine if everything can legally be used.

11. Sustainability
Finding, editing, and creating resources to share takes a lot of time and effort.
Many created materials are funded through grants, but long-term this could
prove to be an issue if funding ceases or creators lack time.

12. Non-Revocable
Once you give something a CC license, you are able to change it at any time.
However, if anyone used your material before you changed your license, they
have the right to continue under the original licensing. Be aware of what you
are licensing and choose the best option for yourself in the present and future.

13. Overwhelming
It can be overwhelming to see all the different resources at once, especially if
you are looking in a broad field of information.There are many different sites
that provide OER with similar material presented differently. Finding exactly
what you are looking for could be difficult.

14. Overall…
OER are fantastic resources that can enhance any class. Sharing
the wealth of resources not only improves your materials but gives
access to millions of people around the world!