Perceptions of Open Educational Resources by Teaching Staff in Higher Education in Ireland

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Emergency Remote Learning on the perceptions of Open Educational Resources. This was achieved by comparing the perspectives of academic teaching staff in this research with those documented in pre-COVID-19 studies. A total of 105 participants from 16 institutions in Ireland were surveyed using a combination of quantitative and qualitative questions. The findings indicate that the shift to Emergency Remote Learning has not significantly diminished the perceived barriers to Open Educational Resources. Instead, it has brought forward fresh concerns about the implications of Open Education on conventional teaching methods. Although a national policy would grant individual institutions the autonomy to devise courses in line with their mission and strategy, the outcomes of this study highlight the need for practical assistance, training, and guidance at an institutional level.