A Mixed-Methods Inquiry of K–12 Teachers' Intention to Adopt Open Educational Resources

• In Event: The Role of Teachers in Technology Integration in K–12 Schools

Abstract

Teachers in K-12 settings often teach out of textbooks to provide differentiated instruction. Open Educational Resources (OER) might be an effective alternative to traditional textbooks for K-12 teachers. Understanding how to encourage teachers to accept OER is thus critical. However, existing evidence mainly concerns the advantage of OER in cost reduction but overlooks the merit of openness. To fill this gap, this mixed methods inquiry integrated qualitative and quantitative findings to obtain a comprehensive understanding of teachers’ intentions of adopting OER in K-12 settings. This study found that perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness predicted K-12 teachers’ intention to adopt OER with attitudes towards OER as a mediating variable. Practical implications of adopting OER in K-12 curriculum were discussed.

Authors

• Hengtao Tang, University of South Carolina

• Yu-Ju Lin, Purdue University

• Yingxiao Qian, Arizona State University - Tempe