This document discusses the benefits and challenges of open educational resources. The benefits include a large volume of available content, lower maintenance costs to keep materials up to date, more equitable access to education, proper attribution of sources through licensing, and opportunities for diverse content. However, the large volume can be overwhelming. While OERs have lower costs, students still require technology and internet access. Equitable access has not been achieved for all demographics. Attribution licensing could imply that only original content developers are authentic. Finding and properly citing diverse sources requires research time.

1. Benefits & Challenges of
Open Educational
Resources
Beth Cummings
DL Coord / Canvas Admin
Bates Technical College
OER 101

2. Benefits
 Volume of content
 Less expensive to maintain accurate
relevant course materials
 More equitable access to educational
materials
 Licensing gives credit where credit due
 Greater opportunity for diversified content
sources.
OER 101
Beth Cummings, Bates

3. Challenges
 Volume of content
Overwhelming
 Less expensive
Offset by higher tech fees, computers etc.
 More equitable access
Many demographics still are underserved.
 Licensing gives credit where credit due
Connotation that unless you developed the
material, you aren’t authentic.
 Greater opportunity for diversified content sources
Provided time and effort devoted to research and
proper citations.
OER 101
Beth Cummings, Bates