This document discusses the challenges and benefits of open educational resources (OER). It outlines five challenges of OERs, including the large number of choices available, determining the credibility and authenticity of sources, and difficulties finding collaboration. However, it also lists five key benefits: the ability to customize materials to student needs, allowing students to work directly with source materials, reduced costs for students, access to more current information, and the collaborative nature of sharing educational resources openly. The conclusion is that OERs are more of a "treasure trove" than a "black hole" due to these benefits.

1. Open Educational
Resources
Black Hole or Treasure Trove?
Jacqueline George
Seattle Central Community College
28 April 2014

2. OER Challenge #1
• Dizzying array of
choices

3. OER Challenge #2
• Is the material
credible?
• Can I dive right in or
should I be wary of
the contents?

4. OER Challenge #3
It’s easy to get sucked into the Web when searching for … anything!

5. OER Challenge #4
Is the material we find the most authentic?
Do we think we have the original, only to find it’s a knock-off?

6. OER Challenge #5
It can be tough if you’re searching on your own. Better
to work in a group, but it’s not always easy to find your peeps.

7. OER Benefit #1
The possibilities for finding materials that will serve the needs
of students are endless. We can search through vast amounts of
materials and use only what we need.
So, it’s not wasteful – not too much, not too little –
just the right amount of goodness.

8. OER Benefit #2
Students have the opportunity to work with source
material instead of a glossed version that may not fit their needs.

9. OER Benefit #3
More reasonable and reduced
costs for students.

10. OER Benefit #4
Instead of waiting and waiting and waiting for current materials
to become outdated, new studies and articles can be found
immediately -- before their contents are on the brink of
extinction.

11. OER Benefit #5
In the way that Central Park belongs to all of us, OERs remind us
that the roots of education involve sharing and collaboration.
“Digital sharing is not competitive.” (David Wiley)

12. Black Hole or Treasure Trove?
Treasure Trove!!