The hidden “cost” of using OERs: Opinion

Open educational resources (OER) have a hidden cost even though they may decrease the cost of educational materials for students, writes Stuart Barbier. Barbier describes how, although OERs may be free, they are not necessarily of the same quality as paid resources that are developed by experts over hundreds or thousands of hours. The author describes the process of reviewing available OERs that did not present the material effectively, were not written by experts in the field, and were not peer-reviewed. The author says that high quality textbooks can be low cost, and encourages instructors to ensure their chosen texts are affordable and that students are informed about purchase and rental options in advance. Inside Higher Ed (Editorial)