Open Educational Resources Implementation Research Articles

Post-COVID-19 assessment of the use of Open Educational Resources at five European Library and Information Science higher education institutions

This article presents an analysis of the impact of Open Educational Resources (OER) during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their potential use in the post-pandemic, in Library and Information Science (LIS) higher education institutions. The research explored how OER were used and created, what were the main barriers and drivers in practice and some main lessons learned that can help to improve the quality and increase the use of OER beyond times of crisis. The research was based on fieldwork carried out in the LIS departments of the universities of Barcelona (Spain), Hildesheim (Germany), Osijek and Zagreb (Croatia) and the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies in Sofia (Bulgaria). The methodology approach was qualitative and was based on interviews with faculty and focus groups with students. Results show that faculty members were still hesitant to adopt OER since they generally did not consider them. Moreover, those who did use them did so on their own initiative and as additional resources. We discuss the different speeds of OER implementation that have been observed depending on the faculty’s prior level of knowledge, and on whether their institutions and countries are prepared to support the use of OER. The promotion of post-pandemic OER involves greater capacity building, as well as collaboration and institutional support. Students’ attitudes about the usefulness of OER focus on their availability. The large number of teachers and students who participated in the study, as well as the international scope of the study, constitute a strength in the treatment of a topic such as the use of OER where the user perspectives and LIS context have been little addressed in the literature.

Impact of open educational resources on student performance in an introductory Geography course

ABSTRACT There is a growing body of evidence that Open Educational Resources (OERs) are a viable alternative to traditional “for cost” teaching materials. This paper provides a reflection on the process and outcomes of developing and implementing OER within an introduction Human-Environment Geography lecture-laboratory course. Evidence is further provided in support of improvements to the academic performance and completion rates of students enrolled in the course after the implementation of OERs over a period of 4–6 years. Results of the study indicate students’ academic performance significantly increased once OERs were incorporated into the classroom compared to the use of traditional materials purchased by the students. The rate of student withdrawal also was significantly less once OERs were implemented. The improvements to students’ academic performance and retention occurred despite OER being only used in the laboratory component of the course, suggesting that even a partial implementation of OERs can still have significant positive effects. The use of OERs can be considered as a legitimate option to increasing retention and student academic success in the Geography classroom.

Exploring academic librarians' perception of OER through the lens of technology acceptance model

Academic librarians' professional skills make them an ideal candidate to work with faculty in the exploration, adoption, promotion, and preservation of open educational resources (OER). This study used the technology acceptance model (TAM) to explain and predict librarians' attitudes towards OER and their intentions towards utilization in instructional design practices and teaching pedagogies. A total of 213 academic librarians participated in the mixed-methods design study. The results reveal that perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived usefulness (PU), and self-efficacy (SE) as it relates to OER accounted for 51 % of the variance in librarians' attitude (AT) towards OER. Moreover, librarians' AT and SE towards OER accounted for 55 % of the variance in their Intentions (IN) to leverage OER. These results support the use of TAM to support likelihood of users to utilize OER. Furthermore, participants' responses on open-ended questions reflected a variety of experiences and opinions, expressed concerns and challenges of promoting OER. In conclusion, in accordance with previous studies, state the necessity of librarians to possess the knowledge, skills, and appreciation of these resources to increase their likelihood of adoption. There is an undeniable need for continual education and support regarding the implementation of OER.

The use of Open Educational Resources in Ukraine: unleashing the potential for knowledge democratization and lifelong learning

Purpose. The purpose of this article is to investigate the current state of Open Educational Resources (OER) adoption in Ukraine, identifying the challenges, opportunities, and its potential impact on the nation’s educational landscape. Furthermore, the study aims to contribute to the broader understanding of OER implementation in transitioning countries and underscore the role of OER in promoting knowledge democratization, fostering innovation, and enhancing critical thinking and digital literacy skills among learners.
 Results. The investigation revealed that Ukraine has made significant strides in adopting OER, primarily driven by government initiatives, international partnerships, and growing awareness among educators and institutions. However, the implementation of OER is still uneven, with marked disparities in access and usage between urban and rural areas, as well as among various educational levels and disciplines. One notable finding is the positive impact of OER on students’ learning experiences, with improved engagement, critical thinking, and digital literacy skills reported across diverse settings. Additionally, the investigation highlighted the importance of ongoing professional development for educators to effectively integrate OER into their teaching practices and curricula. Despite these advancements, challenges persist, such as a lack of quality control mechanisms, limited digital infrastructure, and language barriers, which hinder the broader adoption of OER in Ukraine. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for continued investment in digital infrastructure, capacity building, and policy support to harness the full potential of OER in democratizing knowledge and fostering lifelong learning in the country.
 Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty of this investigation lies in its comprehensive analysis of OER adoption within the unique context of Ukraine, a transitioning country grappling with various political, social, and economic challenges. By examining the interplay of governmental policies, institutional involvement, educators’ perspectives, and students’ experiences, this study offers a holistic understanding of the OER ecosystem in the country. Additionally, the research contributes to the broader discourse on OER implementation in transitioning countries, highlighting the transformative potential of OER in democratizing knowledge and fostering skill development in such contexts.
 Practical value. The practical value of this investigation stems from its potential to inform policymakers, educators, and institutions in Ukraine about the current state of OER adoption and the existing challenges, enabling them to make informed decisions and develop targeted strategies for effective OER integration. By identifying opportunities and best practices, this study can serve as a roadmap for expanding access to quality education and bridging the gap between urban and rural learners. Furthermore, the insights gained from this research can be applied to other transitioning countries, encouraging the adoption of OER to enhance educational systems and promote lifelong learning on a global scale.

The Textbooks Are Too Damn High: Calling for a More Nuanced Evaluation of OERs

As a response to rising textbook costs, the emergence of Open Educational Resources (OERs) has been welcomed by many institutions, teachers, and students. OERs are a free alternative to the traditional textbook, one that promises both access and equity. However, without care, the implementation of OERs can complicate or even worsen the problem they are meant to solve. In particular, the current and consistent lack of appropriate pedagogical framing and relevant faculty support can actually render OERs a barrier, rather than a boon, to student success.

Realising New Open Educational Resources Achievement during Open and Distance Learning of First Year Local Accounting Undergraduates

Since the pandemic crisis of COVID -19 arose around the world, the education system has changed significantly; from the traditional face-to-face (F2F) classes to Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode. This is when Open Educational Resources (OER) gained its popularity. Consequently, the privilege of educational institutions in providing knowledge to students has changed and that knowledge is no longer under the exclusive control of educators. The role of teachers in the context of conducting the learning process in the classroom is getting replaced with ICT supported learning tools. This study investigated the experiences of the first year local Accounting undergraduates from a local public university in using OER during their ODL session. The data were collected by using an electronic survey asking about advantages, compatibility, trial-ability, visibility and also difficulties of using OER during ODL. The result shows that the majority of respondents opted from Agree to Strongly Agree to all the questions. These responses demonstrated the successful movement from traditional resources (printed textbooks and hardcopy notes) and early stage of OER implementation (MOOCS) to a further step ahead in the usage of OER during ODL classes (video-conferencing, live streaming and recorded audio and video being uploaded in YouTube).

When the Trainer is Untrained: Stakeholder Incapacitation in Implementation and Utilisation of Open Educational Resources in Kenya

Open Educational Resources (OER) are geared towards promoting accessibility to education and to help overcome certain constraints to education associated with traditional ways of learning. However, these OERs can only be successfully rolled out and utilised in environments already enjoying certain infrastructural empowerments, including teacher-preparedness, availability of equipment to allow use of OERs and learner exposure and knowhow. This poses a major hurdle in many public and private schools in Kenya, which are in far-flung areas without electricity, mobile-phone connectivity, Internet services and serviceable roads that allow movement to a cyber cafe where Internet services may be accessed at a fee. These difficulties are encountered by both teachers and their learners. This paper seeks to discuss the challenges faced in implementation of OERs, especially by the teachers who are expected to sensitise learners to the availability and utilisation of OERs, while they themselves are either unaware of them, poorly trained to handle them or are under-facilitated to carry out their mandate. The study was carried out in Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya. The county was chosen because challenges related to OER have been reported there. The county has 104 secondary schools. A sample size of 45 schools representing 20% of the respondents was considered sufficient for the study. A questionnaire was used to obtain data on the teachers’ ICT competencies, their awareness of and attitudes towards OER and the challenges they faced in the implementation of OER. The study found that utilisation of OER stands at about 3% as a result of ignorance regarding OER or a negative attitude towards them, poor ICT skills amongst the teachers and poor or inadequate resources within and around the schools.

Using Open Educational Resources at Viterbo University: Faculty and Student Feedback

This study evaluated a coordinated and collaborative pilot implementation of open educational resources (OER) across multiple disciplines including nursing, accounting, environmental science, religious studies, and finance. Participating faculty were qualitatively surveyed regarding their experience creating and implementing OER in a course. Students were surveyed on their perceptions of OER quality, cost savings, and ease of use. Faculty had an overall positive experience with OER, believing there was a significant benefit to students in cost savings while maintaining learning quality. Faculty felt the OER implementation process took a significant investment of time and recommended that faculty should be compensated for creating and implementing OER materials in future courses. Students overall showed positive responses to using OER in their course; the majority of students agreed with the OER cost savings, quality of OER resources, ease of using OER, and they trusted the use of OER materials. Older students (over 30 years) were more likely to state they would print out OER materials rather than read them online (as compared with students 30 and under). Senior-level students agreed significantly more than did freshman-level students that OER presented a cost savings. Faculty recommendations from this study included focusing on courses with very high textbook costs and courses that would impact the greatest number of students. Additionally, faculty recommended a follow-up revision process to keep OER materials current after implementation.

EurOP2E \u2013 the European Open Platform for Prescribing Education, a consensus study among clinical pharmacology and therapeutics teachers

PurposeSharing and developing digital educational resources and open educational resources has been proposed as a way to harmonize and improve clinical pharmacology and therapeutics (CPT) education in European medical schools. Previous research, however, has shown that there are barriers to the adoption and implementation of open educational resources. The aim of this study was to determine perceived opportunities and barriers to the use and creation of open educational resources among European CPT teachers and possible solutions for these barriers.MethodsCPT teachers of British and EU medical schools completed an online survey. Opportunities and challenges were identified by thematic analyses and subsequently discussed in an international consensus meeting.ResultsData from 99 CPT teachers from 95 medical schools were analysed. Thirty teachers (30.3%) shared or collaboratively produced digital educational resources. All teachers foresaw opportunities in the more active use of open educational resources, including improving the quality of their teaching. The challenges reported were language barriers, local differences, lack of time, technological issues, difficulties with quality management, and copyright restrictions. Practical solutions for these challenges were discussed and include a peer review system, clear indexing, and use of copyright licenses that permit adaptation of resources.ConclusionKey challenges to making greater use of CPT open educational resources are a limited applicability of such resources due to language and local differences and quality concerns. These challenges may be resolved by relatively simple measures, such as allowing adaptation and translation of resources and a peer review system.

Evaluation of Open Educational Resources Among Students in Blended Research Methods and Statistics Coursework

This article presents relevant research and a preliminary investigation of Open Educational Resources (OER). The authors of this study utilized OER to replace a traditional textbook in a two-course blended research methods and statistics sequence for working adult undergraduate psychology students. The authors aimed to consider student satisfaction with OER, and more importantly, to see if OER produced different grades when compared to prior course sections taught with a traditional textbook. Twenty students consented to participate in an online satisfaction survey. Qualitatively, participants reported that OER were concise, relevant to course-work, applicable, and had strong visual presentations. Quantitatively, grades significantly improved following implementation of OER. Although grades improved when OER replaced a textbook, this finding should be interpreted with caution. Limitations of this evaluation include a small sample size and self-reporting biases. These results provide preliminary evidence that students may benefit from implementation of OER. However, ongoing research into the perceptions, challenges, and effectiveness of OER is necessary.

The power of open: benefits, barriers, and strategies for integration of open educational resources

ABSTRACT Open Educational Resources (OER) are becoming a significant, mission-driven trend within educational literature. To help address rising costs, instructors and designers are looking to OER to effectively replace traditional instructional content, which requires more than just identify and replace. Drawing from 51 OER studies conducted in countries across the five continents, this systematic literature review explored the empirical themes evident in the current research on a global scale. This review found (1) discoverability, sustainability, and remixing are significant barriers that stand in the way of OER disrupting traditional textbook models; (2) there is no significant difference in learning outcomes when instructors incorporate OER; and (3) implementation of OER as instructional strategies is challenging but can be effective in supporting positive learning outcomes when properly designed. The paper concludes with a discussion of gaps in the literature, considerations for implementation and further directions for future research.

OER Mainstreaming in Tonga

In the race towards achieving the Education 2030 agenda, open educational resources (OER) act as a key enabler for sustainable development goal 4 (SDG4). Leading to the 2014 Regional Focal Points Meeting, Commonwealth of Learning’s (COL) Focal Point for Tonga had identified top priorities for the country where COL can further support the national agenda till 2021. Based on these needs, the Strategic OER Implementation Project in Tonga was initiated by COL in response to a request by the Ministry of Education and Training (MET) of Tonga. The project aims to assist MET in (a) developing a framework for fully utilizing the new fiber optic network infrastructure to deliver online learning to Tongans distributed in the 45 islands; and (b) improve the chances of sustainable livelihoods for Tongan youth by training them in life skills tailored to higher education and employment opportunities in Australia and New Zealand. This paper details the use of the horizontal framework for OER mainstreaming and the OER mainstreaming checklist within this project. The novelty of this project is its approach to mainstreaming OER at an institution in a systemic manner. The contribution this paper makes is to provide a proven plan for sustainable OER mainstreaming in a development setting.

The overview of open education development tendencies in Russia and Canada

The aim of research is to describe the foreign experience of open educational resources implementation in higher education on the example of Canada. The concept of open education in this country requires federal and regional support from the government. Currently, there is a number of initiatives, aimed at maximizing the development of open educational resources. An increasing number of open educational resource initiatives in Canadian universities offer free courses to both Canadians and international students. National open education initiatives include the following projects: “Open Data”, the federal government “pilot” project; support of Canadian Council of Ministers of Education within 2012 Paris Open Educational Resources Declaration; and the Creative Society of Canada. British Columbia and Alberta support open educational resources as a part of the most important open education initiatives at the regional level. However, a number of problems prevent the full development of the open education system.Materials and methods of research include discourse-analysis of domestic and foreign scientific sources, devoted to the problems of open education. The methodological basis is the study of the legal framework of open education, a retrospective analysis of the open education development process in Canadian universities and the analysis of existing open educational projects.The results of the study show that the need to implement the policy of open education imposes new requirements to the process of determining the level of educational programs development and the formation of a unified system of formal credits.Conclusion. The Canadian examination of open educational resources regulates all sectors of education and training in the country. This examination is a review of the results of open education principles implementation at the national and regional levels. The article discusses the features of both regional and foreign projects functioning. The advantages of open educational policy for different segments of the population are described.

Institution initiatives and support related to faculty development of open educational resources and alternative textbooks

ABSTRACT Evidence exists that American institutions of higher education are well-entrenched in the consideration of mechanisms for supporting the implementation of Open Educational Resources (OER) and alternative textbooks. Literature reveals that developing and implementing OER is a significant undertaking in terms of time and human resources. This study deploys content analysis of a sample of United States regionally based higher education institutional websites to determine the current state of institutional support mechanisms to implementers just embarking on the OER journey. Findings reveal that institutions have made strides in the development of faculty mini-grants and stipends with guidelines, proposal checklists, and weighting mechanisms to inform decision making. However, due to widespread language across the stratified sample emphasising award pool and individual limits, it is clear that OER funding is still seeking wider support as a permanent funded resource. Sponsorship of institutional OER initiatives seems split between institutional library functions and teaching and learning centres. Other issues, such as ownership and licensing, are significantly underdeveloped in field implementation or fall in a large continuum of practices. Recommendations of shared responsibility and use of data driven initiatives are provided that may improve institutional support of faculty OER adoption, adaption and creation.

Recursos educativos abiertos, una alternativa para apoyar la comprensión lectora en el grado primero.

En este artículo se presenta una aproximación basada en el uso adecuado de las TAC como apoyo al logro del nivel intratextual de la comprensión lectora, en el área de lenguaje del grado primero en las Instituciones Educativas Hermano Daniel y Filiberto Restrepo Sierra (municipios de Puerto Triunfo y Maceo) en Antioquia, a partir de la implementación de Recursos Educativos Abiertos (REA). Estos REA se desarrollan de forma didáctica e interactiva para decodificar el espectacular mundo de las letras y apoyar el desarrollo de las competencias comunicativas en los infantes. Los REA construidos fueron validados en el ambiente real con los estudiantes del grado primero A de ambas instituciones y se obtuvieron resultados significativos.

OER impact study perceived by faculty within ODL framework

Purpose The purpose of this paper is, first, to scrutinize the determinants of key benefits of open educational resources (OER) to faculty. Second, it is to expose how, in which routines the variables involved, are interrelated. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory design is used in this study. Qualitatively, key benefits include integration, opportunity, efficiency, enrichment, and collaboration. These benefits have direct impacts on enhancing student learning, augmenting teaching practice, improving productivity, catalyzing changes in teaching practice, and supporting non-traditional learners. Quantitatively, the key benefit is moderating the variables. Integration, opportunity, efficiency, enrichment, and collaboration are independent variables. Variables like enhancing student learning, enriching teaching practice, improving productivity, catalyzing changes, and supporting non-traditional learners are the dependent variables. The study population comprised the 721 Universitas Terbuka (UT) faculty members. The respondents were chosen randomly by distributing 450 questionnaires. Only 203 questionnaires were completed. Importance performance analysis and customer satisfaction index (IPA-CSI) were used to measure the importance level of variables involved and their benefits. Structural equation model (SEM) was used to examine the ten hypotheses developed so that the author could understand the significance level and relations power among variables engaged with reference to the qualitative outcomes previously obtained. Findings Six hypotheses were validated by the analysis. Statistically, efficiency and integration affect key benefits. Likewise, moderating variables affect teaching practice enhancement, productivity improvement, catalyzing changes, and supporting non-traditional learners. Conversely, key benefits were neither interrelated by opportunity, enrichment, and collaboration nor learning enhancement. Practical implications This study highlighted that adoption, integration, and implementation of OER in the UT milieu do take place. Originality/value This study recognized the variation of qualitative vs quantitative outcomes. An auxiliary inquiry is needed with broader perspective by increasing the respondents sample in order to minimize the difference between qualitative and quantitative results.

Assessing the potential for openness: A framework for examining course-level OER implementation in higher education

The implementation of open educational resources (OER) at the course level in higher education poses numerous challenges to education practitioners—ranging from discoverability challenges to the lack of knowledge on how to best localize and utilize OER as courseware. Drawing on case studies of OER initiatives globally, the article discusses field-tested solutions to addressing those challenges at the faculty level, the programmatic level, and institutional level. The article concludes with an ontological framework that highlights the importance of weighing the efficiencies afforded by a higher level of institutional control in OER implementation efforts, with the need for individual freedom on behalf of faculty to creatively use and adapt OER.

Advantages and Limitations of Usage of Open Educational Resources in Small Countries

Educational resources in the competitive world of higher education were often considered as key intellectual property, so access to those resources was restricted to privileged groups of students and professors, which is unacceptable in today's networked society. Today, an increasing number of institutions and individuals share such digital resources via the Internet free of any legal, financial or technical barriers. Open Educational Resources (OER) are the right way which enables free and accessible education to everyone and access to knowledge as public good. OER cherish the culture of participation, collaboration and sharing and with an open access to scientific information it brings a notable contribution in knowledge society development. The implementation of OER has certain limitations, in particular for small countries which use a non-English language, have limited resources and support to customize and create OER, their educational practice is founded on traditional teaching methods with occasional use of digital contents and ICT. The awareness raising and positive attitudes about OER are the first important step towards its acceptance. The empirical part of this paper is analysing attitudes toward OER among the scholars at few smaller public faculties in Croatia and their practice of sharing knowledge and teaching materials.

Growth of the Open Educational Resource Movement


 
 
 The cost of a textbook for an undergraduate course can average between $60.00 and $300.00. In particular, the cost of textbooks for Hispanic and other minority students can sometimes exceed the cost of their tuition. The increasing cost of commercial texts has led many students to find alternatives for the purchase of their required course text. Students may purchase an older or international version of the text, rent them, or buy e-books. Many students do not purchase the text for the course because they cannot afford the book in any format. The implementation of Open Educational Resources as a means of reducing the cost of student textbooks has grown dramatically in recent years. This paper outlines the development of the OER trend in community colleges in particular and discusses the practical applications for the development of a business law course at Queensborough Community College.
 
 

Investigating perceived barriers to the use of open educational resources in higher education in Tanzania

<p>The past few years have seen increasingly rapid development and use of open educational resources (OER) in higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing countries. These resources are believed to be able to widen access, reduce the costs, and improve the quality of education. However, there exist several challenges that hinder the adoption and use of these resources. The majority of challenges mentioned in the literature do not have empirically grounded evidence and they assume Sub-Saharan countries face similar challenges. Nonetheless, despite commonalities that exist amongst these countries, there also exists considerable diversity, and they face different challenges. Accordingly, this study investigated the perceived barriers to the use of OER in 11 HEIs in Tanzania. The empirical data was generated through semi-structured interviews with a random sample of 92 instructors as well as a review of important documents. Findings revealed that lack of access to computers and the Internet, low Internet bandwidth, absence of policies, and lack of skills to create and/or use OER are the main barriers to the use of OER in HEIs in Tanzania. Contrary to findings elsewhere in Africa, the study revealed that lack of trust in others’ resources, lack of interest in creating and/or using OER, and lack of time to find suitable materials were not considered to be barriers. These findings provide a new understanding of the barriers to the use of OER in HEIs and should therefore assist those who are involved in OER implementation to find mitigating strategies that will maximize their usage.</p>