This document discusses the positives and negatives of using open educational resources (OER). The positives are that OER promotes equity and access for students, allows for pedagogical experimentation, provides a structure for sharing resources online, and gives students a sense of ownership over their learning. However, the negatives are that free resources can be low quality, there is debate over whether online or print is better for learning, there is a stigma around free quality, developing OER takes extra time to find supplemental materials, and not all disciplines have many options. Overall, the document weighs the benefits and challenges of using open educational resources in the classroom.

1. Thinking of using
OER?
Positives & Negatives
Lauren Maniatis

2. Positives
1. Equity
removes monetary
barriers so all
students have
access to the
materials and
resources they
need in order to
be successful in my
class #equality by Leigh Blackall is licensed under CC BY

3. Positives
2. Allows for Pedagogical
Experimentation
Introducing different pedagogies (such
as Reading Apprenticeship) are easier
when writing in the book is expected
and encouraged without a penalty
(such as renting or returning the book)

4. Positives
3. Provides structure to idea-share
websites such as openwa.org
provide a resource for educators
to use and contribute to OER’s
image from openwa.org licensed under CC BY 4.0

5. Positives
4. Gives students a sense of
ownership of their learning
by encouraging the use of OER for
students, they can build, adapt,
edit, and repurpose material to
suit their needs

6. Positives
5. Freedom
Instructors can feel less
constrained by book costs, editions,
publishers, and the bookstore. And
instead feel empowered to use
material that is best for their
classroom and their students.

7. Negatives
1. Free can mean
low quality
it can take time
to sift through
resources
free stuff by Frank Hebbert licensed under CC BY

8. Negatives
2. Online vs. print options. Which is best for
learning?
I know if given the choice students
would choose a free online book vs. a
$30 print version from the copy center.
But there is some research that shows
students retain more information from a
physical book compared to a digital one.

9. Negatives
3. Stereotype
just because free can mean low
quality doesn’t mean it always
does. Overcoming the negative
stigma could be a barrier for
colleagues new to OER.

10. Negatives
4. Time
published books often have
example activities, case studies,
slide decks, and images that
correspond to the text. OER’s
don’t often offer those
resources, so it can take extra
time to find creative commons
resources that supplement the
text.
image from creative commons is licensed
under CC BY 4.0

11. 5. Limitations
not all disciplines have a variety
of OER resources to choose from.
However, I think if more educators
are exposed to and add to the
creative commons this won’t be an
issue.
Negatives