Session 07B | Public Good or Common Pool Resource: What does it mean to share an OER commons?

There has been some debate, particularly between David Wiley and Jim Luke, about whether Open Educational Resources are a public good or a common pool resource. Wiley wants to challenge the very idea of an OER commons, while Luke thinks this notion is central to the work of open educators and open advocates. This presentation will discuss the sides of the debate, consider reasons for each position, and ultimately argue that the notion of a commons is, in fact, central to the work of OER educators. The goal of the talk is not to get too far into the weeds of this debate but to present the contours of the debate for a general audience. Understanding the broader economics of OER can increase understanding of the roles of open educators, librarians, and administrators. In short, sustaining a vibrant ecosystem for the creation, use, and distribution of OER relies on the efforts of a community willing to tend to that ecosystem. To do so effectively, OER advocates should embrace certain shared values and understand the implications of those values for the work such as those articulated in the CARE framework.