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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.

  • Textbook costs have increased by 1,401% over the last 50 years, 2.8 times the rate of inflation.¹
  • The average undergraduate students pays between $339-$600 for books and supplies in one academic year.²

  • High textbook costs have resulted in:²

    • 66% of students not purchasing course materials

    • 20% of students who fail college courses are due to the cost of textbooks & class materials

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

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

    • 17% of students skip purchasing access codes needed to complete homework³

Sources:

  1. Winstead, S. (2024). "Textbook prices have increased by 1401% over last 50 years." My eLearning World.
  2. Hanson, M. (2023). "Average cost of college textbooks." Education Data Initiative.'
  3. Welding, L. (2023). "Average cost of college textbooks: Full statistics." Best Colleges.