Introduction to Open Educational Resources (OER)
Before digging into the topic of Open Educational Resources, here are a few facts you need to know about:
- The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that 7 in 10 students didn’t buy a textbook because it was too expensive.
- 20% of college students have skipped or delayed a class due to high textbook costs.
- 60% of students wait to buy textbooks until they receive their financial aid.
- Textbook prices are increasing at four times the rate of inflation.
The lack of competition among textbook publishers leads to higher prices, as there are few alternatives for students. Publishers exploit this by increasing costs, knowing that students have no choice but to buy the required materials.
According to the Education Data Initiative, hard copy books can range in price from $100 to $400, with an average cost between $100 and $150. Aside from textbooks, you’d also need to budget for other supplies like lab materials, software, and digital resources, which can add up quickly. To save money, many colleges have been using Open Educational Resources.
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What are Open Educational Resources?
Open Educational Resources (OER) are freely accessible, openly licensed materials found on the internet at no cost. These materials can include:
- Online textbooks
- Video recorded lectures
- YouTube clips
- Web-based textual materials
Essentially, Open Educational Resources (OER) free learning materials are used for independent study, animations, simulations, digital diagrams, and graphics. Some OERs also offer MOOCs and automated tests.
With the rapidly increasing cost of tuition and fees, online students must consider OER as a valuable resource to reduce their expenses. Using these resources allows students to get good educational content for little or no cost. This makes learning more affordable and helps make education fairer for everyone.
Why OER Matters for Online Students
A lot of college students choose to pursue online college for one reason: to save on college expenses. Online colleges, unlike traditional colleges, have fewer overhead costs. Students won’t have to pay for hefty housing and meal plans.
Beyond these savings, another area where online students can save is on textbooks. Instead of printed materials, online students are recommended to buy eBooks. The EDI reports that, on average, eBooks are 31.9% cheaper than their printed low-cost textbooks.
Yet, despite the obvious cost savings on learning materials, many online students may still find paying for the total cost of education hard. As a result, they work tirelessly between jobs to make ends meet and cover all educational expenses. This can affect their academic performance, causing many students to drop out.
OERs allow students to save money on textbooks significantly. These resources are often free to use. However, some may require a small fee or optional purchases. Nevertheless, the costs of online course materials are still minimal compared to physical versions. These savings can be redirected toward essentials like food, health insurance, or tuition.
A major SRI Education and RPK Group study showed that Open Educational Resources (OER) allow colleges to offer affordable education. In the OER Degree Initiative, 38 community colleges and 2,000 teachers found that students paid $65 less per course and had good experiences with OER. Although it took more effort from teachers to switch to OER, it was still cost-effective and even beneficial for some colleges.
On the other hand, a report by PIRG criticized inclusive access programs, which bundle digital textbooks into tuition fees. PIRG found these programs offer limited discounts and lack transparency. They recommend colleges use OER instead for better student savings and more choices.
Benefits of Using OER in Your Online Courses
Affordability
A major benefit of Open Educational Resources is that it significantly reduces the costs of creating and maintaining educational resources. Unlike college textbooks, which have increased in price by 812% since 1978, OER and free online textbooks can help lower the cost of overall learning materials.
Accessibility and Customization
Additionally, using OER provides immediate and ongoing access to course materials. This flexibility enhances performance and lifelong learning. OER’s adaptability allows for a more personalized and enriched educational experience.
More Interactive Learning
Using OER on digital platforms makes learning more interactive. Unlike traditional textbooks, digital OER lets students edit, remix, and reuse materials. This active learning approach helps students engage more deeply and improves their success and completion rates.
How to Find and Use Free or Low-Cost Learning Materials
Access to free resources can be easy if you know where to start. Here’s a step-by-step guide to searching for reliable digital learning tools:
Step #1: Ask your college.
Before searching for OERs on external websites, you should consider talking with an academic advisor. You can ask for any recommendations for free or low-cost open access content. In most cases, online colleges have their own approved OERs.
Step #2: Use your library’s resources.
Libraries have become underrated. Fewer students are visiting them because they think that libraries are only filled with old and outdated books. However, libraries have evolved to offer a wealth of digital resources. Many libraries provide access to free e-books, audiobooks, and databases. They also often have subscriptions to academic journals and any other learning materials that are accessible online.
Step #3: Explore the Internet.
The internet is a goldmine. With a little digging, you can find thousands of OERs on your first attempt. Here are some great databases for OER:
- OER Commons
- Open Textbook Library
- Merlot
- Mason OER Metafinder
- OASIS
- HathiTrust Digital Library
- Teaching Commons
- BCCampus
- Open Educational Resource Textbook List
Other sources include:
- Directory of Open Access Books
- Academies Press Open Books
- OAPEN
- OpenMichigan
- OpenStax
- OpenSUNY
- MIT OpenCourseWare
- Saylor Academy Open Textbooks
- University of Nevada, Reno’s open-access databases
- OER for Technical Communication Classes
- MIT CourseWare
Step #4: Use Google Advanced Search.
- Scroll to the bottom and find the “usage rights” field.
- Set the field to “free to use, share, or modify.” You can also choose the “free to use, share, or modify, even commercially” option based on your needs.
- Enter keywords and refine your search using other fields.
- Click the “Advanced Search” button.
- Review the results to ensure they match the license type and terms of use you’re looking for.
Consider these tips when using advanced Google search:
- Use Site:.gov or Site:.edu to find specific types of websites.
- Use a minus symbol (e.g., -Wikipedia) to exclude specific websites or terms.
- Enclose a phrase in quotes (e.g., “climate change”) to search for that exact phrase.
Step #5: Tap into your local network.
Even while the internet is a huge resource, don’t undervalue the power of local organizations and personal relationships. Finding top-notch OER can be made easier with the help of your network. Here’s what you can do:
- Contact your neighborhood schools, libraries, and community centers.
- Engage in relevant forums.
- Attend local educational events.
- Networking with colleagues to yield valuable resources that may not be easily found online.
Success Stories: How Students Save Money with OER
Success Story #1: From Student to Contributor
Emma Neary always reminded students not to underestimate the educational value of OER. She has seen firsthand the impact of Open Educational Resources (OER) on her academic experience and financial well-being. With rising tuition, housing, and student debt costs, Emma recognizes that access to free, high-quality educational materials can make a significant difference in students’ lives.
Emma took her commitment to reducing textbook costs a step further by co-authoring a new open textbook for First Year Physics 104/106. This project allowed her to apply the skills she learned in the course to develop a resource that will benefit future students.
Success story #2: Engineering Career with Python Programming
Ujjwal Lal, from Bangalore, significantly benefited from MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW). While focused on engineering, Ujjwal was eager to expand his knowledge in computer science. He turned to MIT OCW’s “Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Python” course, which provided free, high-quality materials and assignments.
The course, designed for beginners, helped him build a strong foundation in Python programming. His acquired skills enhanced his academic projects and career opportunities, integrating his engineering background with programming expertise. Ujjwal’s experience highlights how MIT OCW can complement traditional education and support students in pursuing their interests and career goals.
Success story #3: A Transformative Educational Journey with OER
Broward College Online, led by Dr. David Shulman, has significantly reduced educational costs by adopting Open Educational Resources (OER). The college committed to no-cost educational materials, starting with an “e-Textbook & Digital Content Symposium” in 2012.
By the Summer of 2014, their OER initiatives saved students over $250,000 and achieved a 30% adoption rate. This approach alleviated financial burdens and improved student retention and enrollment.
Broward College Online continues to expand its college affordability and OER offerings, including a new accelerated A.S. and A.A. program that will save graduates over $2,000, setting a precedent for affordable, high-quality education.
Tips for Maximizing the Benefits of OER
Open Educational Resources are just one part of your coursework, but they can significantly boost your learning. By using them, you can make your studies more engaging and improve how well you remember and understand the material. Here are a few effective tips on how to integrate OERs into your online courses:
Tip #1: Use OERs as part of your assignments or projects.
For example, you could use open textbooks to gather info for your research papers or put together presentations using various multimedia resources. This way, you’re not only broadening your sources but also getting some practice with different formats.
Tip #2: Be creative.
Why not try creating your own resources based on what you’ve learned? You could make a study guide, a video tutorial, or a set of practice problems. Sharing these with your classmates can not only help them but also boost your own understanding. Plus, it’s a great way to foster a collaborative learning environment!
Tip #3: Engage with interactive learning
Many OERs come with interactive features like quizzes, simulations, and games. Dive into these tools to reinforce what you’re learning and check your progress. They offer instant feedback and can make studying a lot more engaging and fun!
Tip #4: Supplement course materials.
Try using OERs alongside your textbook or lecture notes. They can offer extra explanations, examples, or different perspectives that might help clear up tricky topics. They’re especially handy for filling in any gaps where your course materials might fall short.
Tip #5: Stay organized.
Set up a dedicated folder or document to keep track of the OERs you use for easy search and visitation. This will help streamline your study process and ensure you can quickly access valuable information.
Conclusion: Making College More Affordable with OER
One of the best student budget tips anyone can give you is always to ask whether the course allows for the use of OERs. While a $50 second-hand textbook might seem like a good deal, it still pales in comparison to the cost savings offered by OERs.
Beyond online education savings, OERs can help boost your learning experience. You can use engaging and interactive materials that enhance your understanding and retention of the subject. For additional savings check out our guide to affordable online learning software.
Check with your school, community, and personal connections, and make the most of online searches. You’ll be amazed at how many Open Educational Resources (OERs) you can find. Another way to save money is to look for colleges with low cost technology requirements.