Open education resources (OERs) have several potential benefits but also some drawbacks. The pros of OERs are that they can supplement traditional textbooks and lectures, provide accessible materials for students worldwide, and reduce costs. They also allow for continual improvement through editing and feedback. However, some cons are issues with the quality of some resources, technological barriers for some students, confusing licensing terms, and uncertainty around long-term sustainability. The article discusses both advantages and limitations of using open educational resources in teaching.

1. Open Education Resources
The Pros and Cons
By Amanda E. LeeVan
Photo credit: opensourceway / Foter / CC BY-SA

2. The Pros

3. OERs can supplement textbooks &
lectures when information is incomplete
 With supplemental lesson modules
 With videos and podcasts
 With student centered activities
 With formative and practical assessments
 With interactive labs

4. Students around the world can access
OERs at any time, over and over
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5. OERs can reduce the expense of
traditional textbooks and course packs
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6. Continually Improved Resources
 OERs can be improved quickly through editing by other users
 or through solicited feedback
 Depending on the license other uses can revise, remix, and add
additional content to continually update resources

7. Provide Enhancements to regular course
content with free content and open tools
 Multimedia material can accompany text allowing for multiple formats to meet UDL
guidelines which may help all students to learn the material more easily
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8. Cons

9. Con: Quality issues with some OER
resources
 Since there are several OER repositories that allow any user to create an
account and post materials
 the accuracy and relevance of some materials is questionable
 There are no quality standards for resources submitted

10. Con: Technological barrier issues
 Some students may have
trouble using some OERs if
they use an older or slow
computer or internet
connection
 Not all students have ready
access to internet
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NotionsCapital.com / Foter / CC BY

11. Con: Creative Commons licensing terms
can be confusing to users
 Users unfamiliar with the CC licensing may be confused with if and how they
can use resources

12. Con: Creative Commons licenses are
non-revocable
 CC Licensing can be changed or removed from items but materials already
used, reused or revised will continue to be exponentially available
 This may scare off some educators who are unsure of their future potential as
published professors who may feel they would loose out of royalties
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13. Con: Question on the long term
sustainability of OERs
 While there has been significant money for OER startup development, there is
some question about keeping the resources up to date and maintaining the
servers and file sharing portals open for worldwide access over the long term

14. Will You OER?
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