Open Educational Resources
Introduction
Open Educational Resources (OER) are any type of educational material that is freely available for faculty and students to use, adapt, share, and reuse. Examples of OER include learning content (lesson plans, assignments, textbooks, exams, and videos) as well as tools for learning (software for creating videos and websites and training materials).
Research about Student Learning/Engagement and OERs:
Why Consider OER for course resources?
Flexibility
Move beyond the restraints of traditional pedagogy and explore new ways to connect students with learning content. Open Educational Resources allow instructors to customize course content to the specific learning goals of their courses and adapt new approaches to teaching and learning.
Affordability
With the rising cost of higher education, every dollar counts. The ballooning cost of expensive textbooks and course materials is outpacing inflation and wages, resulting in a negative impact on students. The 2016-2017 report from the National Association of College Stores found students spent an average of $579 on their required course materials. Four publishers control 80% of the course material market and do not not provide multiple user access purchase models to academic libraries - they sell exclusively to individual users.
Student Success and Retention
One study shows that 65% of students don't buy textbooks due to the cost, even when they know it will affect their grade. Nearly 50% of students reported that the cost of textbooks directly impacts what types and the number of classes students are able to take. Help your students succeed by using no-cost textbooks and course materials.
Attribution
This guide was created by Lis Chabot. Upon retirement, Cathy Michael is editing this guide. If you have any suggestions please contact her at: cmichael@ithaca.edu
