How Does Open Educational Resources' Efficacy Vary Based on Student Age and Course Modality? A Multi-Institutional Analysis

• In Event: Applications in Multilevel Modeling

Abstract

Open educational resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that are available without access fees. Previous findings have indicated that learning outcomes were similar between OER and commercial resources, but there is considerable variation in the findings. The purpose of this study is to examine how OER interacts with two characteristics that are becoming more commonplace in higher education: students older than typical age and online courses. Based on multilevel modeling findings, typically-aged students had higher grades with OER whereas OER did not reliably relate to the grades of students older than typical age. However, students older than typical age in face to face courses with OER had greater enrollment intensity (number of credits in a term).

Author

• Virginia Clinton-Lisell, University of North Dakota