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OER: Open Educational Resources

Definitions

ZTC - zero textbook cost; courses that do not require students to purchase a textbook; may use OER.

LTC - low textbook cost; courses whose required textbook materials cost less than $20.

OER - open educational resources; these are teaching and learning materials (such as textbooks, slideshow presentations, readings, videos, etc.) available for people to use and reuse for free. This is possible because OER have open licenses, which specifically state how the material may be used, adapted, and shared. 

The 5 Rs of OER point out the different activities users are permitted to do with OER:

  1. Retain - the right to make, own, and control copies of the content
  2. Reuse - the right to use the content in a wide range of ways
  3. Revise - the right to adapt, adjust, modify, or alter the content itself
  4. Remix - the right to combine the original or revised content with other material to create something new
  5. Redistribute -  the right to share copies of the original content, your revisions, or your remixes with others

Source: Wiley, David. "Defining the 'Open' in Open Content and Open Educational Resources." Open Content blog, 2014. http://opencontent.org/ definition/

Image Source: Fort Hays State University, https://www.fhsu.edu/oer/

Why Use OER?

Textbook and classroom material costs have risen dramatically in recent years, creating a financial burden to students, instructors, and institutions everywhere.

  • College textbook prices have increased 812% since 1978. The Consumer Price Index has increased 250% during this time.¹
  • The average student in the U.S. spends $1100 to $1200 annually on textbooks.²

  • Despite 90% of students worrying that not purchasing the textbook or access code would negatively impact their grade, high textbook costs have resulted in:³

    • 66% of students not purchasing course materials

    • 17% of students not buying an access code

    • 19% of students deciding which classes to take due to materials costs

    • 25% of students working extra hours to pay for course materials

    • 11% of students not eating meals due to materials costs

Sources:

  1. Perry, M. J. (2012, December 24). The college textbook bubble and how the open educational resources movement is going up against the textbook cartel.
  2. College Board. (2013). Quick guide: college costs.
  3. Nagle, C. & Vitez, K. (2020). Fixing the Broken Textbook Market