How can open educational resources and practices lower the cost of higher education?

The consumer of textbooks, the student, doesn’t choose the textbook - it is chosen for them by the professor. Some describe this as a “broken market” since the professor who chooses the book but doesn’t pay for it and this allows the publisher to set high prices for a captive audience. Students are suffering from crippling debt which is exacerbated by the cost of textbooks. Textbooks are also out of date the day they hit the market. In contrast, OERs and FERs (free education resources) come at no cost to the student, are up to date and modifiable. I am also a big supporter of open source virtual, mixed and augmented reality experiences for learning.

OER stands for Open Educational Resources, which refers to freely accessible and openly licensed educational materials. OEP stands for Open Educational Practices, which aligns with the ways in which educators and institutions use open educational resources (OER) to support teaching, learning, and collaboration. OER and OEP play a significant role in fostering access to quality educational resources, reducing costs for students by eliminating or minimizing the need for expensive textbooks, promoting collaborative learning environments, and supporting innovative teaching practices.

In my opinion, the concept of Open Educational Resources (OER) is transforming higher education by making it more financially accessible. OER allows educational materials to be freely accessible to everyone, reducing the financial burden on students and opening up higher education to a broader demographic. This democratization of knowledge also breaks down geographical barriers and creates a more equitable educational landscape. OER's customization and relevance benefits educators by allowing them to adapt materials to suit their curriculum and reflect the latest advancements in their fields. Overall, OER represents a shift towards a more inclusive, equitable, and efficient system of higher education.

Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Educational Practices (OEP) significantly lower higher education costs. OERs like free textbooks, course materials, and multimedia resources reduce the financial burden of expensive educational resources. OEPs, involving collaborative projects and peer feedback, foster a dynamic learning environment without the need for costly proprietary materials. By implementing these resources and practices, educational institutions can offer quality, accessible, and equitable learning experiences. This approach not only supports students financially but also encourages innovation and a broader sharing of knowledge, benefiting the entire educational community.

OER/OEP usage in higher education is critical in limiting the cost of higher education. Though quality materials and practices are our first priority, choosing open resources, where possible, eliminates barriers for students without adequate financial aid. When OER materials are widely used, we see publishers working to lower their costs and create more inclusive pricing to meet the needs of students, such as with Cengage Unlimited and similar programs.

Access to educational content and resources are made easier by the internet. The challenge really is to teach students fact checking, reaserch skills and being able to evaluate resources. For content creators, the real challenge is to make it updated and relevant to learners.

Institutions need faculty groups to review OER materials to be sure the content is comprehensive, balanced, and inclusive … not just cheap. It’s important to recognize that open resources must be focused on learning outcomes and be a viable path to student success, not just completion of the course.

Developing and designing OER materials is a strenuous process that requires deep collaboration with faculty and faculty support units, like librarians and instructional designers. The goal of OER materials in every course is to develop more equitable experiences for students, highlight the expertise of faculty, and develop opportunities for cross-collaboration across institutions and systems. Focusing on using OER more wide-spread can be the difference between the affordability of education and not being able to complete an education.

As a technology teacher, Open Educational Resources (OER) are invaluable. In the ever-evolving tech landscape, OERs save costs by eliminating the need to constantly purchase updated resources. Additionally, OER facilitates collaboration, allowing me to use materials created by others through tools like Quizziz or Kahoot, and share my own resources. This not only broadens the range of available materials but also reduces the time and effort spent on resource preparation. In essence, OERs are a cost-effective and collaborative solution for staying current in technology education.

Open Educational Resources (OER) and Practices (OEP) significantly reduce higher education costs. OERs, including free textbooks and course materials, alleviate students' financial burdens. OEPs promote dynamic, cost-effective learning environments, eliminating reliance on expensive proprietary materials. These resources and practices enable institutions to provide accessible, equitable, and quality education. By embracing OER and OEP, universities can offer diverse educational experiences, fostering innovation and broad knowledge sharing, greatly benefiting the academic community. This approach not only supports students financially but also enriches the learning landscape.

Finding and effectively using OER and OEP involves several steps. First, exploring various databases like OER Commons, MERLOT, and OpenLearn is crucial for accessing a wide range of materials. It's important to ensure that these resources comply with copyright restrictions and are accessible to all students, including those with disabilities. Additionally, the impact of OER and OEP on learning achievement can vary, influenced by factors like course subject and education level. Educators should adapt these resources to fit their specific educational contexts and learner needs, ensuring they are used most effectively.

While adapting and integrating OER and OEP, it's crucial to critically evaluate their alignment with educational goals and the specific needs of learners. Simply downloading and using them without modification may not yield optimal educational outcomes. Educators should rigorously assess the quality and relevance of these resources, ensuring they enhance rather than merely supplement the learning experience. Furthermore, sharing and inviting collaboration on OER can be challenging due to varying levels of engagement and contribution from the community. Building an active, collaborative network around OER requires sustained effort and strategies to encourage meaningful participation and continuous improvement of resources.

To deepen understanding of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Practices (OEP), exploring resources like Open Education Week, an event celebrating open education's benefits, is valuable. Engaging with Open Education Global connects educators globally, fostering a supportive open education community. The Open Education Consortium offers advocacy and leadership in open education. Additionally, the Open Pedagogy Notebook showcases real-world open pedagogy examples, while Open Education MOOCs provide comprehensive insights into open education concepts and practices. These platforms are instrumental in understanding and implementing OER and OEP effectively.

It's crucial to consider the sustainability and scalability of OER and OEP. While these resources offer significant benefits, their long-term impact depends on continuous community contribution, funding, and institutional support. Also, while OER can democratize education, there's a need for quality control to ensure that the resources meet educational standards. Another aspect is the digital divide; ensuring that OER and OEP are accessible to those with limited internet access or technology is vital. Lastly, integrating OER and OEP requires cultural shifts within institutions, emphasizing the need for professional development focused on open practices.

As mentioned on this page, educators need to evaluate the alignment of the contents of these resources with the learning objectives of the course. I have successfully integrated some of the OER in teaching undergraduate mathematics and statistics courses. I often ask students to use those resources for simulation and experiments. Thanks to the developers of different web-based applications. These applications help educators to go beyond the set textbook. If not all students, but motivated and enthusiastic students benefit from such exercises provided by OER.

The various points presented on this page are not specific to higher education. Most of them apply to all cases where you have to develop EdTech learning environments or e-learning courses. If OER or OEP solutions exist, you should consider using them rather than duplicate their development.

The lack of awareness about industry leaders' support for educational purposes, poses a challenge. To address this, establishing online support services can guide students and promote opportunities. Additionally, integrating digital capacity building ensures students not only access resources but also develop the skills in research and scientific data analysis and preparing them for the evolving digital landscape.

Como Dr. Christian ángel Rueda, especialista en tecnologías educativas, reconozco el impacto de los recursos y prácticas educativas abiertas en la reducción de costos en la educación superior. Estos recursos eliminan la necesidad de materiales costosos, proporcionando acceso gratuito o económico a textos y herramientas de aprendizaje. La colaboración entre instituciones disminuye los gastos en desarrollo de cursos, mientras que los MOOCs y el aprendizaje digital reducen los costos operativos. Como experto en entornos digitales inmersivos, aprecio cómo estas estrategias mejoran la eficiencia educativa, haciendo que la educación superior sea más accesible y asequible.