OER Adoption in Higher Education: Examining Perspectives from Institutional Stakeholders.
Start
1-30-2019 2:45 PM
End
1-30-2019 3:30 PM
Short Description
Institutions of Higher Education have begun delving deeper into the issues associated with textbook affordability and seeking ways to reverse the negative effects experienced by learners due to rising textbook costs. The implementation of open educational resources (OERs) may be the solution; however, the impact of these resources is still undefined. This presentation focuses on institutional stakeholders’ perspectives of OER adoption and integration at a state college in east Florida.
Abstract
The costs associated with education, including tuition and learning resources, continue to rise causing affordability issues for learners. It has been reported that the cost of traditional textbooks and materials has risen by as much as 103% over the past decade (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). Due to this increase, many students have opted out of purchasing required textbooks for classes. A study conducted in Florida found that 67% of students did not purchase the required textbooks (Florida Virtual Campus, 2016). Institutions are becoming increasingly concerned with textbook affordability and the impact on academic performance, achievement, and completion (Jhangiani, Dastur, LeGrand, & Penner, 2018). OERs are being examined as cost-effective substitutions to traditional textbooks and literature suggests that OERs are equally effective and are comparable in quality to traditional textbooks (Hilton, n.d.). Reflecting on 14 interviews conducted with faculty, instructional designers, and librarians, as well as quantitative data collected from a survey distributed to students as a part of an ongoing OER initiative at a state college in east Florida, this session will discuss the challenges and advantages associated with OER adoption and integration at the institution, from the perspective of institutional stakeholders. This session will also inform educational professionals about how these views may influence OERs’ rate of adoption, the effect of OERs on the course design process, how librarian advocacy helps in the OER adoption process, and the potential impact of OERs on learners. Understanding the experiences of stakeholders may help to advise the practices of other institutions who wish to adopt OERs and provide further reflection on how OER adoption and integration impacts the overall success of learners. The core principle of open learning is to provide equal access to education on a global level irrespective of economic or social limitations. The implementation of OERs in higher education, including distance learning courses, seeks to fulfill this mission by expanding the possibilities of affordable and quality resources to all learners worldwide.
References
Florida Virtual Campus. (2016). 2016 Florida student textbook survey. Retrieved from https://florida.theorangegrove.org/og/file/3a65c507-2510-42d7-814c-ffdefd394b6c/1/2016%20Student%20Textbook%20Survey.pdf
Hilton, J. L. III. (n.d.). The Review Project. [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://openedgroup.org/review
Jhangiani, R. S., Dastur, F. N., Le Grand, R., & Penner, K. (2018). As good or better than commercial textbooks: Students’ perceptions and outcomes from using open digital and open print textbooks. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 9(1). Retrieved from https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cjsotl_rcacea/vol9/iss1/5
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2018). Consumer price index – All urban consumers: College textbooks. Retrieved from https://beta.bls.gov
Format
Concurrent Session
Institutional level targeted
Higher Ed
OER Adoption in Higher Education: Examining Perspectives from Institutional Stakeholders.
The costs associated with education, including tuition and learning resources, continue to rise causing affordability issues for learners. It has been reported that the cost of traditional textbooks and materials has risen by as much as 103% over the past decade (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). Due to this increase, many students have opted out of purchasing required textbooks for classes. A study conducted in Florida found that 67% of students did not purchase the required textbooks (Florida Virtual Campus, 2016). Institutions are becoming increasingly concerned with textbook affordability and the impact on academic performance, achievement, and completion (Jhangiani, Dastur, LeGrand, & Penner, 2018). OERs are being examined as cost-effective substitutions to traditional textbooks and literature suggests that OERs are equally effective and are comparable in quality to traditional textbooks (Hilton, n.d.). Reflecting on 14 interviews conducted with faculty, instructional designers, and librarians, as well as quantitative data collected from a survey distributed to students as a part of an ongoing OER initiative at a state college in east Florida, this session will discuss the challenges and advantages associated with OER adoption and integration at the institution, from the perspective of institutional stakeholders. This session will also inform educational professionals about how these views may influence OERs’ rate of adoption, the effect of OERs on the course design process, how librarian advocacy helps in the OER adoption process, and the potential impact of OERs on learners. Understanding the experiences of stakeholders may help to advise the practices of other institutions who wish to adopt OERs and provide further reflection on how OER adoption and integration impacts the overall success of learners. The core principle of open learning is to provide equal access to education on a global level irrespective of economic or social limitations. The implementation of OERs in higher education, including distance learning courses, seeks to fulfill this mission by expanding the possibilities of affordable and quality resources to all learners worldwide.
References
Florida Virtual Campus. (2016). 2016 Florida student textbook survey. Retrieved from https://florida.theorangegrove.org/og/file/3a65c507-2510-42d7-814c-ffdefd394b6c/1/2016%20Student%20Textbook%20Survey.pdf
Hilton, J. L. III. (n.d.). The Review Project. [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://openedgroup.org/review
Jhangiani, R. S., Dastur, F. N., Le Grand, R., & Penner, K. (2018). As good or better than commercial textbooks: Students’ perceptions and outcomes from using open digital and open print textbooks. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 9(1). Retrieved from https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cjsotl_rcacea/vol9/iss1/5
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2018). Consumer price index – All urban consumers: College textbooks. Retrieved from https://beta.bls.gov