This document discusses the benefits and challenges of open educational resources (OERs). The benefits include providing the most up-to-date information, allowing for easy adaptation and reuse of materials without copyright issues, and cost savings for students and instructors. However, challenges include not being able to guarantee the quality or reliability of resources, potential conflicts between documents, issues of censorship, a lack of access for those without internet, and a dominance of English materials over other languages. The document was from an SBCTC Canvas course on using educational resources taught by Boyoung Chae in winter 2014.

1. OPEN EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCES
BENEFITS & CHALLENGES
HOW TO USE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
AN SBCTC CANVAS COURSE - WINTER COHORT 1 – 2014
INSTRUCTOR: BOYOUNG CHAE
CC BY-SA
4.0
Mery Velastegui
ABE/GED Instructor @ Renton Technical College

2. Benefits of OER’s
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Most recent thinking/information in all areas.
Updated research materials, no need to wait for a
book, nor second editions or revisions.
Open Licensed allow instructors to re-use, re-create
and adapt. Easiness to create own material, no
copyright infringement worries.
Money saving advantages for students and
instructors as well.
Students have access to countless “free” courses
from reputable institutions.
Raises standard of educational resources by
sharing instructor’s experiences and discoveries.
What's more, by allowing a wide exchange of new
ideas, research and/or findings.

3. Challenges of OER’s
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There are no means to guarantee the quality-reliability
of educational materials, even though they are
produced in its majority for reputable institutions.
Some documents appear to be conflicting with each
other. If so, how do you choose one of them. Some
other documents appear to have been edited. Edited
contents means the possibility of certain restrictions
(censorship), if so who? and why?
Trust is a big challenge. Instructors and students
should feel confident about the information they are
receiving and helping to circulate.
OER’s mainly are helping people who have means and
resources to internet access. How about people
computer uneducated. Are we creating a new type of
exclusion?
Wide availability of English materials. How about other
languages. Are we helping to propagate a monolingual
culture?

4. References
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How to Use
educational
resources. Course
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Lessons & materials
by Boyoung Chen.
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Power Point Presentation:
Microsoft Template