Open Educational Resources (OER)

The open resource movement has been around for a while, starting with static learning objects (about 2000), and transitioning to OERs that allowed for revision and reuse. The ever increasing cost of textbooks and materials for students is now pushing the OER movement forward around the globe.

• Textbooks and learning materials cost students approximately $1,200 per year.
• According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, 7 in 10 students didn't purchase a textbook because it was too expensive.  
• One in five college students has skipped or deferred a class due to the price of the required learning resources.
• The cost of textbooks is rising at a rate of 4 times inflation
• 60% of students have delayed purchasing textbooks until they’ve received their financial aid. 

Through OERs the cost of student materials can be drastically reduced.  

OERs give faculty the ability to customize course materials, creating the "perfect" course packet or textbook instead of being bound to a traditional one-size-fits-all model. Customization gives faculty control over the quality of their course materials as well as the type and timing of updates to textbooks and other resources. OERs also allow required textbooks or materials to be available to all students from the very first day of class or beforehand.

Benefits for faculty

• Customize your course content
• Avoid issues with students not being able to immediately access their textbook
• No need to work with commercial publishers
• Support students by reducing their costs
• Provide equitable access to required content
• Control updates

Benefits for students

• College and student success become more affordable
• Equitable opportunities to succeed
• Access textbooks on day 1 of course (or before)
• Access the textbook after the course ends

StudentPIRGs. (2018). Open 101: An Action Plan for Affordable Textbooks. Retrieved from https://studentpirgs.org/2018/01/25/open-101-action-plan-affordable-textbooks/