Promoting Use and Contribution of Open Educational Resources is an open journal article that “highlights the need for a systematic approach to mainstreaming OER in Indian higher education.” The article examines human factors involved in integrating OER into course material including; attitudes, motivations, perceptions of quality, and barriers. More specifically, the research identifies:
• teachers’ attitudes toward OER
• factors that motivate teachers to share their work with others
• common obstacles faced when integrating OER into course material
• concerns about using OER without a way to ensure the reliability or quality of open content
The article was published by the Commonwealth of Learning, an organization created “to promote the development and sharing of open learning and distance education knowledge, resources and technologies.” The study would be of interest to educators and/or administrators who are working toward integrating OERs into course curriculum.
Type of Material:
open journal article
Recommended Uses:
• Reference for anyone in the field of education interested in OER
• Homework and/or lecture material for education courses
This is a great starting point for introducing faulty to open education resources research. It could be used for faculty development.
Technical Requirements:
Viewed using Firefox and Chrome browsers; browser must support PDF files.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The author of the study, Dr. Sanjaya Mishra, identified the following research objectives:
1. Examine teachers’ attitudes towards OER in select Indian universities;
2. Establish teachers’ perspectives on OER use in order to determine the uptake of OER in India;
3. Identify barriers to the creation and use of OER in India;
4. Identify the factors motivating teachers’ uptake of OER in India;
5. Analyze teachers’ perception of OER quality in India; and
6. Investigate the relationships amongst teachers’ attitudes, motivations, perceptions of quality and barriers to the use of OER.
Target Student Population:
Educators and/or administrators who are working toward integrating OERs into course curriculum, or upper level education courses that are introducing the use OER to students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Knowledge of common terms used in the field of education.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
• The article is an excellent example empirical research. The author clearly outlines the research process, providing through details concerning the research design, findings, and recommendations.
• The article is current and relevant, providing valuable information concerning the opinions and concerns of faculty with OER integration
• Also, the article includes an extensive list of references that would be an asset to anyone conducting additional research concerning OERs.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
The basic question was how to drive use of and contributions to OER and looking at why some teachers contribute and others do not. The study uses mixed methods and can probably be generalized to other countries. This paper can also be used in a research course as an example of how to write a mixed methods research study on education.
Although the study identifies "policy makers and institutional leaders" as the target audience, it would be valuable in professional development opportunities and/or upper level education courses.
Concerns:
None.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
• The article is well organized, and provides detailed information concerning the study.
Concerns:
None
Creative Commons:
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