Open educational resources include learning, teaching, and research materials that others can use, make changes to, and distribute, for free. For students, one of the main benefits of open education resources is access to free textbooks. CCSS executive director Michel Turcotte says that open education is beneficial for students because it helps ease their financial burden and also can help create better learning materials. “Many students are not able to afford all of their required or recommend textbooks and struggle academically as a result,” says Turcotte. “Open educational resources and other zero textbook cost initiatives make education more affordable for students and ensures equitable access to learning materials. Open educational resources are not inferior to regular textbooks—in fact, they are often more adaptable, interesting to read, and better customized to the course material.”
