Advantages and Challenges of OER

Kim Kornbacher, PhDAnthropology and Humanities, Everett Community College

First, the advantages!

Next generation by Zeitfaenger.at is licensed under CC BY 2.0

1. OER make learning widely accessible

This is perhaps the most compelling benefit of OER. In terms of both financial and physical accessibility – OER make learning possible on a scale never before possible.

Education by Javier licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

2. OER are built by a broad community of

educatorsThe work of one person can be infinitely expanded, vetted, and built-upon. Content can be the result of many people bringing their special knowledge and insights to bear. Collaboration is productive!

Collaboration by Vanessa Meimis is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

3. Information can be disseminated rapidly

Materials can be kept up to date and students (especially in historical sciences and other rapidly changing fields) can have access to the most current information.

Communication by Joan M. Mas licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

4. OER are customizable

Open Court Reading by Woodleywonderworks licensed under CC BY 2.0

Resources can be delivered in a variety of formats and tailored to suit particular instructor/student needs

5. OER as a potential equalizer

Open access to high quality materials offered by prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Yale, MIT, etc. could eventually result in breaking down exclusivity that has characterized higher education in this country since its inception.

The rich and the poor by Emiliano licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Now the challenges . . .

The history of the future of education by Giulia Forsythe, licensed under CC BY-NC SA 2.0

1. Less personal interaction

Face to face learning may decrease as more and more OER are delivered electronically. Developing OERs that are interactive is one way to combat the negative aspects of isolated learning.

More classroom stuff, UMBC by Seth Sawyers licensed under CC BY 2.0

IMG-6277 by David Gilmour licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

2. Technological Challenges

Equal access to reliable internet access, access to computers, and access to software necessary for some OER is far from a reality. This will always be a major challenge.

Jugando con Jota y Zeta by Danilo Urbina licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

3. Funding Issues

Education experts by A.J. Cann is licensed under

CC BY-SA 2.0

According to some, the primary challenge for OER is funding. There must be public and private funding sources to help grow and sustain OER infrastructure, or there will be little incentive (apart from altruistic motives) for professors and researchers to build OER programs. Currently most instructor-developers are not compensated for the time, money, and resources they invest.

4. Time challenges (and textbook temptations!)

Instructors face significant challenges simply finding time to develop OER course materials. The “lure of the textbook” is hard to resist when test banks, flash cards, and other learning aids are provided and take considerably less time for instructors than developing OER.

Books by Rodrigo Galindez licensed under CC By 2.0

5. Quality control/peer-review

Dialing the right mix: Open source principles and collaboration by Christina Hardiston is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Also tied to the issue of funding and institutional support, one of the big challenges for OER development and expansion is how to ensure that materials are of high quality, accurate, and up-to-date. The development of peer-review infrastructure is paramount.