The document discusses the benefits and challenges of open educational resources (OER). The benefits include OER materials being free, which can reduce student costs and debt, as well as allowing universal access to course content regardless of location or institution. However, challenges exist in ensuring the quality and currency of information, gaining faculty acceptance of changes to intellectual property, and cultural shifts in teaching and learning. Overall, the document suggests that the benefits of OER currently outweigh the challenges.

1. TO OER or NOT TO
OER?
That is the question.

2. Benefits of OER
 Its free! And who doesn’t like free.
 This actually means reduced costs for students which ultimately can mean reduced student debt
upon graduation and possibly less loan defaults.

3. Benefits of OER cont.
 Course materials can be accessed from any place at any time.

4. Benefits of OER cont.
 Course material is available to instructors and students that would previously only
been available to students at elite universities such as MIT or Carnegie Mellon

5. Benefits of OER cont.
 Provides the opportunity for students to access information outside of what is
presented in the class.

6. Benefits of OER cont.
 Students can revisit and remediate at anytime to aid in retention of material for
future courses.

7. Challenges of OER
 Is the information presented high quality and up to date?

8. Challenges of OER cont.
 When information is out there, it is out there whether it is correct or not or up to
date or not.

9. Challenges of OER cont.
 Will the funding that is available now be available in the future?

10. Challenges of OER cont.
 An understanding by faculty of the benefits and a change in attitude about
intellectual property rights.

11. Challenges of OER cont.
 The use of OER is a cultural change for both faculty and students.

12. To OER or Not To OER?
That is still the question.
However, I think the benefits now
and in the future will out weigh
the challenges.