The articles we read in my OER class this week focused on students and faculty's perceptions of the quality of OER books. Students believe that OER books are of similar or higher quality than traditional books. According to students, OER books are more appealing because they are portable, printable, easy to share, and they can be kept for a lifetime. Using OER books also has the advantage of saving students money.
To my mind, it is not justified to charge students $150 for a book that is often perceived as inferior to alternative open-source resources. The studies also address faculty perceptions of open educational resources. OER books are praised by faculty for saving students' money, allowing a variety in the classroom, providing convenience, and enabling them to customize their instruction.
In my opinion, it is necessary to make the transition from conventional books to OER books. This is because research has demonstrated that both students and faculty benefit from using OER books.
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