Walker Library: Open Educational Resources (OER): Why Use OER?

Saves money for students by providing course materials that are freely accessible to everyone
Provides immediate access to course materials on the first day of class
Allows instructors to customize course content to their specific instructional needs
Gives the opportunity to include diverse voices, examples, and perspectives in the curriculum
Improves student engagement and success

The high cost of some course materials can impede students’ academic success.
MTSU advises undergraduates to budget $1260/year for books and supplies and advises graduate students to budget $540/year. (See Cost of Attendance webpage)

"Textbook Broke: Textbook Affordability as a Social Justice Issue"
Examines disproportionate impact of high textbook costs on historically underserved students
Fixing the Broken Textbook Market
A 2021 survey of college students and textbook affordability during the COVID-19 pandemic
"Open educational resources and college textbook choices"
Results of 16 studies that examine either (1) the influence of OER on student learning outcomes in higher education settings or (2) the perceptions of college students and instructors of OER.
Open Education Group Review Project
A summary of empirical research on the impacts of OER

Open Educational Resources (OER)