It's no surprise to anyone that college is expensive, and the cost of textbooks certainly doesn't help. Students can spend hundreds of dollars on textbooks in a single semester, and a survey of UNC students found that the cost of required textbook caused 28% of respondents to either earn a poor grade or fail a class.
This dynamic puts students in a lose-lose situation: a student can either pay exorbitant amounts of money on course materials or they can risk their performance and understanding of a subject by not buying them. The reality of the situation is that many students don’t have the money to actually have a choice. That's where OER come in.
Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning materials that are FREE and carry legal permissions for open use, adaptation, and redistribution. What this means for students is that OER are free on the first day of class and instructors can customize course materials to ensure they meet the specific needs of the course and its students.
Open Educational Resources (OER) are free, openly licensed materials—like textbooks, videos, and assignments—that you can use, share, and even adapt for your own learning. Here’s how they benefit you:
💸 Save Money on Textbooks
Access high-quality learning materials at no cost, helping you focus on learning instead of budgeting for books.
⏰ Access Anytime, Anywhere
OER are digital and portable—no waiting for rentals, no access codes, and no expiration dates.
📚 Learn Your Way
Many OER come in multiple formats (PDF, online, print, audio, ePub), making it easier to study however you learn best.
🔄 Stay Current
Open materials are updated more frequently than traditional textbooks, so you get the most relevant information.
🧠 Support Deeper Learning
Because OER are open, instructors can customize materials for your class—connecting content more directly to your interests and real-world examples.
🌍 Promote Equity and Access
OER help level the playing field by ensuring every student has access to the same resources from day one.
🤝 Empower Collaboration
You can contribute back—create, remix, and share your own learning materials with peers.
"Speaking" by wira wianda from the Noun Project is licensed CC BY 3.0
"Choose" by Maassam Mohammed Anis from the Noun Project is licensed CC BY 3.0
"Comments" by Hanzal Ziandru from the Noun Project is licensed CC BY 3.0
"Viral marketing" by SAM Designs from the Noun Project is licensed CC BY 3.0