OERs have been shown to increase student learning by providing relevant and interactive learning materials. An engaged student is more apt to learn and retain the material. Additionally, working in an interactive open education environment prepares students for today’s collaborative workplaces.
A University of Georgia study of OER impact on 21,822 students found that grades increased and drops, failures, and withdrawals (DFW) decreased dramatically among all students but especially among Pell-eligible, non-white, and part-time students.
Another report by Achieving the Dream Open Education Resources Degree Initiative studying 38 community colleges around the country found that students see OER as more relevant, current, and aligned better to learning objectives. Faculty find that students are more engaged with the textbook. Administrations see improved pedagogy, less time to complete a degree, and better access and equity.
OERs can break down barriers of affordability and accessibility. The high cost of textbooks can cause students to register for fewer or different classes each semester. Better accessibility to affordable textbooks can bolster student success and retention.
A 2016 meta-analysis of 16 studies of the influence of OER on student learning outcomes in higher education settings or the perceptions of college students and instructors of OER found “the decision to employ OER appears to have financial benefits to students (and the parents and taxpayers who support them) without any decrease in their learning outcomes.”
OERs allow for customization of course materials. OERs are flexible and enable faculty to create and supplement custom course materials instead of being bound by traditional textbooks. Ease of update means that material may be constantly kept current without relying on outdated textbooks. Affordability is also a factor. More students could complete degrees because of the student savings of zero or low-cost textbooks.
OER allows student voices to be heard in their textbooks. Open pedagogy will enable students to consume information and be creators and curators in the OER process. Read more on how this works in this Faculty Focus blog on OERs and students.
OERs provide immediate and lasting access to learning resources. By making course materials available before and after a class, students can prepare ahead and reinforce what they have already learned. Students can access the materials upon class registration. Additionally, students may return to the materials long after the class has ended.
Open is so much more than free. Free resources are an important part of Open Educational Resources and enable students greater access to learning. In this environment, open means that instructors and students have permission to freely download, edit, share, and keep the educational resources that they have revised. These permissions to reuse, revise, remix, redistribute and retain educational resources are commonly known as the 5Rs of Open Education.
These 5R rights and sharing privileges are made possible by the Creative Commons Licenses. These CC licenses are attribution tools that allow free distribution of an otherwise copy written work.