Chapter 2: Why OER?

This section will focus on the benefits of creating, or adopting an OER course.

Is It Really Worth The Time?

While the process may seem complicated and time consuming, these efforts have a tremendous impact on student satisfaction and extend learning beyond classroom, and campus walls. Reports show that many students avoid taking certain courses because of the prohibitive costs of textbooks that add up quickly, class after class, semester after semester. With the proliferation of materials available online, and the increased digital savvy of our students and selves, creating or adopting an OER course is a literally a “gift that keeps on giving”.

OER Benefits For Instructors & Students

As an instructor, while the initial investment in creating or adopting an OER course may seem exhausting, the preparation ensures that your syllabus, schedule, and materials are extremely organized, far in advance of the beginning of the semester. Not only will this save you plenty of time later on, when papers begin piling up and hours seem to evaporate, it also ensures that your students will have easy access to all documents and assignments, preventing the confusion and excuses that often come with missing handouts and lost, or inaccessible materials. Another great benefit is the knowledge that all students will be accessing the same materials, not different editions of textbooks or online versions. OER courses provide the perfect opportunity for the entire class to finally be on the same page.

In addition, using a website hosting platform like CUNY Academic Commons, where students are also encouraged to build their required portfolios, provides a scaffolded learning experience that gives them practice and preparation for their own website. It also has the benefit of making you an expert and strengthens technological skills sure to be of increased importance in this digital age, in the classroom and beyond.

Students will be able to access course materials whenever necessary, and on a platform that is much more mobile-friendly than Blackboard. Students have more freedom and flexibility to print documents or read ahead, if they’re accelerated learners. While they may be overwhelmed by the materials and links, with detailed information and time built in to allow them to get familiar and up-to-speed, students will quickly adapt to the technology and feel more empowered by the transparency and accessibility. Another benefit of using CUNY Academic Commons, a Wordpress site, is that it presents text and media in a “blog” format, much more recognizable to students than the staid, stark quality of Blackboard. This will help students to more consistently consider clarity of communication, media, and design when creating and submitting work.

Let’s not forget the powerful ecological impact of minimizing the use of paper, saving not only trees, but also reducing pollution in our communities and around the world. While some students may truly prefer paper, their student technology fees will more than cover the texts they choose to print.

Finally, as mentioned before, the generous funds to support OER development and adoption won’t be around forever. As instructors increasingly convert courses and accessible materials multiply, the need for new courses diminishes, along with the financial incentive to fund their creation. At this juncture, however, you can be part of the movement to provide greater access to excellent learning to students, regardless of their academic institution, financial situation, or major. Not only can your OER course provide plenty of material to build your professional portfolio, it also contributes to the development of instructors in your institution and others online, strengthening your network and collegial interactions. Your materials will be have copyrights and be available to learners of diverse ages and backgrounds, as well as contribute to the open source community and CUNY’s digital archive of instructional tools.