The Challenges and Opportunities of Using Open Educational Resources

8 July 2025

Let’s admit something up front—education is expensive. Textbooks, software, subscriptions, and access fees all add up, especially when you’re a student on a tight budget or an educator trying to build an inclusive classroom. That’s where Open Educational Resources (OER) come in like a breath of fresh air.

OERs are teaching, learning, and research materials that live in the public domain or are released under an open license. Basically, anyone can use, adapt, share, or remix them. They’re a superhero in the world of education—flexible, free, and full of potential.

But just like every superhero story, there’s a bit of tension in the plot. OERs face their own set of challenges, and the journey toward widespread adoption isn’t all smooth sailing.

So, let’s roll up our sleeves and dig into both the sunny side and the stormy clouds of using Open Educational Resources.

What Are Open Educational Resources Anyway?

Before we dive deep, let's make sure we’re on the same page.

Open Educational Resources can be anything from full courses, lesson plans, assessments, video lectures, to even interactive simulations. The key word here is “open.” They’re either in the public domain or licensed in a way that allows anyone to use and modify them without doling out big bucks or dealing with copyright headaches.

Sounds amazing, right? But like anything that promises a revolution, it's not without its bumps.

Opportunity #1: Accessibility for All

Imagine a world where a student in a remote village gets the same high-quality learning material as someone in a top-tier university. That’s what OER is aiming for.

Open resources break down geographic and economic barriers. A student in Nairobi, a teacher in rural India, or a homeschooler in Texas—everyone gets access to the same core material.

📌 It’s like turning education into a shared buffet rather than a gated dinner party.

But accessibility doesn’t just serve the learner. It also gives educators the freedom to build and customize their own lessons, right down to the last slide.

Challenge #1: Quality Control and Credibility

Here’s the catch—not every open resource is top-notch.

Since anyone can create and upload educational content, the quality can be… well, hit or miss. Some OERs are created by experts, peer-reviewed, and updated regularly. Others? Not so much.

This puts educators in a bit of a pickle. They’ve got to vet and verify every OER they plan to use. Think of it like shopping at a thrift store—you might find a gem, but you’ll have to dig through some junk first.

Also, without a built-in guarantee or publishing process like traditional textbooks, it’s hard to know where the content comes from, how reliable it is, or when it was last updated.

Opportunity #2: Customization and Flexibility

One of the best things about OERs? You can tweak them however you want.

Unlike copyrighted materials that say “hands off,” OER lets you remix, update, and localize content. Want to translate it into Spanish? Go ahead. Want to add local case studies? Be my guest.

This adaptability means educators can make materials more culturally relevant or personalize lessons for different learning styles. It’s like LEGO blocks—you can build your own version to suit your needs.

Challenge #2: Lack of Awareness and Training

Let’s be real—OER is still kind of a well-kept secret.

Many educators simply haven’t heard of it. And even when they have, they're not always sure where to find good resources or how to use them effectively. It’s not just about Googling and downloading—you’ve got to know how to evaluate, adapt, and even contribute back.

Plus, schools don’t always provide professional development on this. Teachers already juggling lesson plans, grading, and meetings might not have the time (or energy) to figure out how OER fits into their world.

So what you get is a bit of a knowledge gap. The tools are out there, but not everyone’s been handed the map.

Opportunity #3: Cost Savings

Now for the one everyone loves—saving money.

Traditional textbooks are pricey, and prices seem to rise like a balloon on a windy day. OER eliminates or drastically reduces these costs. Schools, districts, and even entire countries are turning to open resources to cut down on spending and redirect funds toward other priorities.

Students, in particular, benefit big-time. With free or low-cost materials, the financial burden drops dramatically. Some research has shown increases in course completion rates when students aren't held back by textbook costs.

Who wouldn’t want that?

Challenge #3: Sustainability and Funding

Here’s the paradox: OERs are free for users but not free to produce.

Creating high-quality open resources takes time, expertise, and—yes—money. So who foots the bill?

Often, it’s universities, non-profits, or government grants. But once the funding dries up, maintaining and updating the content becomes a struggle. Without a clear sustainability plan, even the best OER projects can fizzle out over time.

It’s kind of like building a beautiful community garden but forgetting to water it.

Opportunity #4: Encouragement of Collaboration and Innovation

One of the coolest things about OER is the sense of community it fosters.

Educators don’t have to start from scratch. They can build on each other’s work, share improvements, and collaborate across borders. It shifts the focus from competition to cooperation.

When people are free to share ideas, creativity blooms. That lesson plan you wrote could be used and improved by a teacher halfway across the globe—and vice versa. That’s pretty magical.

Challenge #4: Intellectual Property and Licensing Confusion

Let’s talk rights and licenses—yep, the not-so-fun stuff.

Even though OER is “open,” there are still rules to follow. Creative Commons licenses, for example, come in different flavors. Some allow full remixing; others require attribution or prevent commercial use.

This can get confusing real fast. Educators may find a resource they love, only to realize it comes with strings attached. Or worse, they might unintentionally misuse content because they didn't fully understand the license.

It’s like reading the fine print—you have to, but it makes your head hurt.

Opportunity #5: Support for Lifelong Learning

OER isn’t just for students in classrooms. It’s for anyone who wants to learn—at any age, for any reason.

Want to pick up a new skill? Explore philosophy? Brush up on math? OER puts that knowledge at your fingertips for free. It supports self-directed learning, upskilling, and lifelong curiosity.

That’s a powerful thing in our fast-changing world, where continuous learning is essential.

Challenge #5: Digital Divide and Tech Limitations

Let’s not ignore a big elephant in the room—not everyone has reliable internet or devices.

OERs are usually distributed online. While that works great for people with solid Wi-Fi and modern gadgets, it leaves others in the dust. Rural areas, low-income families, and under-resourced schools can find it difficult to access or use these materials.

And even when you’ve got the tech, there’s the know-how. Are students and teachers digitally literate enough to use OER effectively?

Sometimes, the tools exist, but the bridge to use them hasn’t been built yet.

So, Where Do We Go From Here?

Given all these ups and downs, it’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed. But here’s the thing—OER isn’t meant to be perfect. It’s meant to be powerful.

It’s changing the way we think about knowledge. Instead of locking it up behind a paywall, we’re opening the gates. We’re saying: Education should be a right, not a privilege.

To get the most out of OER, we’ve got to invest in training, infrastructure, and sustainability. We need to build better search tools, promote awareness, and support communities that create and curate open content.

The more we collaborate, the better these resources will become. It's not about replacing traditional materials entirely; it's about having more choices, more flexibility, and more equity.

Final Thoughts

Open Educational Resources are like a box of potential—dynamic, exciting, and ripe with opportunity. But just like anything worthwhile, they come with their own set of challenges.

Whether you’re an educator, student, policymaker, or just someone who cares about learning, OERs offer a chance to rethink how knowledge is shared. They invite us to participate, contribute, and innovate.

And really, isn’t that the whole point of education?