Why Use OER?
To increase access to higher education.
By making sure that each course includes all of the course materials and resources that students need, we are putting all students on the same level. Each student has equal access to the same information, ensuring fairness and equality among all students enrolled in the OER course.
To make higher education more affordable.
By eliminating the burden of additional textbook costs for students, the actual cost of taking an OER course is reduced. Often, this is a significant reduction in cost which translates to considerable savings over time. This can result in much lower student debt, making attaining the Associate Degree easier and more valuable.
To increase student success.
By giving all students in an OER course equal access, and removing the burden of additional expenses to those who can least afford them, students have a better chance of being successful in the course, continuing their enrollment, and achieving their academic goals.
Excerpt from the presentation description for The OER Trifecta: Access, Affordability and Student Success presented by Dr. Wm. Preston Davis for WCET, Nov 21, 2014.
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This image is shared in the Public Domain under a Creative Commons Deed CC0 1.0. |
“The Affordable College Textbook Act seeks to expand the use of open textbooks on college campuses, providing affordable alternatives to traditional textbooks and keeping prices lower.” The Act states, “The solution to skyrocketing textbook prices is to leverage today’s technology to reduce costs and expand access.”
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Excerpt from The Affordable College Textbook Act, S. 1704 (Durbin-Franken) and H.R. 3538 (Hinojosa-Miller).
The Open Education Group is an interdisciplinary research group that (1) conducts original, rigorous empirical research on the impact of OER adoption on a range of educational outcomes and (2) designs and shares methodological and conceptual frameworks for studying the impact of OER adoption. See some of their publications and their review of empirical research on the impacts of OER adoption.
This video was created by Laura Rachfalski (3:05) and won second place in a U.S. Department of Education video contest. The video is licensed under the Creative Commons license Attribution CC BY 3.0 US.
It explains the “classroom revolution” of OER and hints at the possibilities available.
This video was created by Nadia Paola Mireles Torres and won third prize in a recent U.S. Department of Education video contest.
It explains the "big picture" of OER including how content can be shared, reused, and remixed by educators.
