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Open Educational Resources (OER)Benefits & Challenges

Nancy Miller, M.A.Associate Professor, EnglishSouth Puget Sound Community College

Click to edit Master text stylesBenefits of OER1. Students enjoy a huge savings in textbook costs. 2. Instructor can create unique combinations of resources tailored to each class.3. No worries about sharing content.4. Enhances a colleges or universitys reputation. 5. Allows for peer review. 6. Access to materials is broader. These are just a few of the advantages that instructors have when developing OER resources:

Click to edit Master text stylesChallenges of OER1. Can be time consuming locating materials that are just right. 2. Lack of public awareness can create a sense of being threatened. Requires a paradigm shift on the part of instructors. 3. Accessibility may be somewhat limited. 4. Must ensure quality. 5. Sustainability of resources.These are just a few of the challenges that instructors have when developing OER resources:

Click to edit Master text stylesNancys culminating thoughts on OERDespite the challenges of using Open Educational Resources, making the attempt to achieve this paradigm shift is important and timely. While it is true that searching OER can be time consuming, that ensuring quality and sustainability can be concerning, in the end, the benefits outweigh the inconveniences. What is gained in the form of more independence and creativity in developing course content, as well as raising overall standards of education is of far greater importance and relevance as we venture further into the 21st century. To be or not to be? That is the question.

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