Benefits & Challenges of Open Educational Resources for Faculty

Benefits & Challenges of Using Open Educational ResourcesBy Rachel DornArt InstructorYakima Valley College

BenefitsInstructors should adopt Open Educational

Resources because OERs:

Cost $0 Increase Access (Time) Increase ModalityOffer More Varied PerspectivesOffer More Varied Quality interactions with

Imagery



Cost $0By replacing expensive textbooks with OER, we can save

students hundreds of dollars each term

Increase Access (Time) Increase ModalityOffer More Varied PerspectivesOffer More Varied Quality interactions with

Imagery



Cost $0 Increase Access (Time)By utilizing OER, students can access their “textbook” materials

before and after the course and can, themselves, reuse these materials in future

Increase ModalityOffer More Varied PerspectivesOffer More Varied Quality interactions with

Imagery



Cost $0 Increase Access (Time) Increase ModalityOERs may be video, text, interactive pages, podcasts, and more.

These different modes allow students to alternate between learning styles and increase accessibility within the class for students with different needs for visual, audio, and interaction with the text.

Offer More Varied Perspectives Offer More Varied Quality interactions with Imagery



Cost $0 Increase Access (Time) Increase ModalityOffer More Varied PerspectivesBy utilizing OERs by different authors, instructors expose

students to interpretations, explanations, and perspectives that may vary more than the typical textbook.

Offer More Varied Quality interactions with Imagery



Cost $0 Increase Access (Time) Increase Modality Offer More Varied Perspectives Offer More Varied Quality interactions with ImageryArt textbooks introduce students to two-dimensional reproductions of

artworks at a small scale. OER may include videos that allow students three dimensional works from multiple perspectives, increasing understanding of context and scale. Interactive sites show spaces (Lascaux), maps, and details (Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights) that allow students a more holistic understand of the artwork itself.

ChallengesInstructors might hesitate to adopt OER

because OERs:

Increase Instructor WorkloadVary in QualityPresent Opportunities for Technical TroubleHave Hidden CostsPresent Challenges regarding Art

Reproductions


because OERs:

Increase Instructor WorkloadSetting up a set of OERs to adequately replace the textbook (and

online resources including with textbooks) requires an enormous amount of research, evaluation, and modification by the instructor in the first place and continuing throughout the life of the course and the OERs.

Vary in Quality Present Opportunities for Technical Trouble Have Hidden Costs Present Challenges regarding Art Reproductions


because OERs:

Increase Instructor WorkloadVary in QualityDepending on the discipline, quality of OER materials varies

and it may be difficult to find materials that cover all content yet remain accessible and useful.

Present Opportunities for Technical TroubleHave Hidden CostsPresent Challenges regarding Art Reproductions


because OERs:

Increase Instructor Workload Vary in Quality Present Opportunities for Technical TroubleUtilizing multiple OERs for one course instead of one textbook or course

system, may present more opportunities for crashed servers, differing interaction with browsers, student confusion, unwanted updates, or other technical “surprises.” Instructors will need to check sites regularly address updates, and/or copy content to a new location.

Have Hidden Costs Present Challenges regarding Art Reproductions


because OERs:

Increase Instructor WorkloadVary in QualityPresent Opportunities for Technical TroubleHave Hidden CostsUsing online OER assumes all students have access to fully

functioning computers or tablets and good quality, reliable internet. This is not always the case (though we tend to assume it is).

Present Challenges regarding Art Reproductions


because OERs:

Increase Instructor Workload Vary in Quality Present Opportunities for Technical Trouble Have Hidden Costs Present Challenges regarding Art ReproductionsArt Images present several specific challenges:

post-modern and contemporary artworks may not be in the public domain and therefore may be difficult to access for free

attribution of artworks online is notoriously irregular, making it more challenging for instructors and students to collect accurate information

free sources may not have the technical or financial support for reproducing high quality imagery of less well-known artworks