Why OER?
Why use Open Educational Resources?
Affordability and Equity
OER reduces or eliminates textbook costs for students, ensures all students, regardless of financial background, have access to quality education at the start of the course.
What this can look like in your course:
- Saving students money, lowering the average $1,463 spent on education materials in one academic year*
- Clearly stating the expected cost of taking your course
- Using updated, current educational materials that reflect student demographics
Flexibility
OER are adaptable materials that can be modified to fit specific course needs.
What this can look like in your course:
- Combining of free and available articles, videos, and images
- Adapting an existing OER textbook to fit your specific course
- Using an open software to customize your course content
Engagement
OER encourages active learning through interactive and customizable content.
What this can look like in your course:
- YouTube videos, photos, and graphics
- Eye-catching infographics
- Interactive lectures with embedded questions
- Lab simulations
- Interactive learning checks
Success
OER have shown to improve grades while reducing drop, fail, and withdrawal rates.**
What this can look like in your course:
- Immediate access to course materials
- Less time spent answering student emails and troubleshooting
- Lower drop rates
- Flexibility in assessment format
- Higher success rates
Additional Resources/Works Cited
*Hanson, Melanie.,
Links to an external site. 2024
**Colvard, N., Watson, C., & Hyojin, P
Links to an external site.., 2018