JISC

Overview

This study investigated the impact of Open Educational Resources (OER) use on teaching and learning. To achieve this, the project team reviewed current research in the area; surveyed, interviewed and ran workshops with suitable participants to collect data; and produced an accessible report on the study findings. The report considered the use of OER from both an individual and institutional perspective looking at the benefits OER can offer each and identifying the pedagogic, attitudinal, logistical and strategic factors conducive to uptake and sustained use of OER, as well as the associated issues and challenges.

Aims and objectives 

Our activities and outputs aimed to inform the community of the current impact of OER from a use and reuse perspective. The key focus for the study was:

• Investigating the patterns of behaviour around the use and reuse of OER.
• Examining the impact of these behaviours on teaching and learning strategies from institutional, tutor and student perspectives.

Project methodology

The project was exploratory in nature, elaborating on themes and issues that were identified from an initial review of the existing literature on the reuse both of OER and of learning materials in general. It was therefore primarily a qualitative study, gathering rich, in-depth data from a small number of participants.

The project examined the impact of OER use on teaching and learning at two levels:

1. Impact on the teaching practices and reputation of individual teaching staff and its effect on the student experience
2. Programme and institutional level approaches to OER for teaching and learning

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

• The Final Report of the project was written for practitioners within the OER community. It assessed the current impact of OER in the light of OER activity to date.
• An accessible report for non-specialists considering the use of OER. The report highlighted benefits, challenges and pathways for the uptake and therefore impact of OER.