Open Educational Resources and College Textbook Choices: A Review of Research on Efficacy and Perceptions

• In Event: Affordances and Uses of Open Educational Resources and Mobile Technologies

Abstract

Textbooks are a vital component in many higher education contexts. Increasing textbook prices, coupled with general rising costs of higher education have led some instructors to experiment with Open Educational Resources (OER). This article synthesizes the results of sixteen studies that examine either (1) the influence of OER on student learning outcomes in higher education settings or (2) the perceptions of college students and instructors of OER. Results across multiple studies indicate that students generally achieve the same learning outcomes when OER are utilized while simultaneously saving significant amounts of money. Studies across a variety of settings indicate that both students and faculty are generally positive regarding OER.

Author

• John Hilton, Brigham Young University