Pros and Cons of Open Educational Resources

1. PROS AND CONS OF OER
Tanna Rasmussen, CBE Completion Coach
Columbia Basin College

2. 1. POOLED KNOWLEDGE
~Pro~
Faculty and students have the opportunity to access
a far more comprehensive and larger collection of
knowledge than was available before OER.
~Con~
Sometimes there is too much knowledge and it
becomes overwhelming and unmanageable.

3. 2. CURRENT CONTENT
~Pro~
The most current content for any topic could be
available and accessible in a format that makes it
possible for faculty to implement it efficiently and
quickly.
~Con~
The most current content may not be the content
shared.

4. 3. ACCURATE CONTENT
~Pro~
When released in the interactive web, more “experts”
are reviewing content and there is a possibility of
more accurate information as a resource is reviewed,
and at times, adjusted (if the license allows).
~Con~
Anyone can share any resources – the available
content may not be the most accurate.

5. 4. CREATIVITY
~Pro~
Pooled creativity could make course content more
interactive, interesting and even aesthetically
pleasing.
~Con~
It could go too far – content could become too “flashy”
or “busy” and the meaning of the topic could be lost.

6. 5. TODAY’S CULTURE
~Pro~
With the information age, the newest generations of
students literally have information at their fingertips.
OER is likely more familiar and natural to the culture
of these generations.
~Con~
There could be some resistance and struggle with the
massive shifts in roles among instructors and
teachers as a result of movements such as OER.