Educators Possess OER Awareness but Lack Understanding

According to a survey conducted by the Babson Survey Research Group, roughly three fourths of educators are aware of open educational resources (OER) but lack a full understanding of OER licensing. Meanwhile, only a sliver of those who responded said they have adopted an OER curriculum. Faculty continue to report significant barriers to OER adoption. The most serious issues continue to be the effort needed to find and evaluate suitable material. OER also addresses a key concern of many faculty: the cost of materials. The implications of this report indicate a need for greater OER awareness and understanding to positively impact education.

Seaman, J. E., & Seaman, J. (2017). Opening the textbook: Educational resources in U.S. higher education, 2017. Babson Park, MA: Babson Survey Research Group. http://www.onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/openingthetextbook2017.pdf

BSRG Survey - How K-12 School Districts Choose Curricula Materials

A national survey of curriculum decision makers in K-12 school districts sought to understand the process by which K-12 school districts select and adopt full-course curricula materials, and to understand the degree to which K-12 school districts are aware of and adopted Open Education Resources (OER).  Key findings include:

·      Over three-quarters of districts have made a full-course curricula decision in the past three years, with two-thirds of these making decisions in more than one subject area.

·      The most common subject area is Mathematics, followed by English Language Arts. Adopting a full-course curriculum is a group activity including teachers, administrators, and principals. Half of the districts include parents and outside experts in this process.

·      The vast majority of district adoption decisions are driven by an external factor: changing standards (curricula is replaced roughly every 6 to 10 years), with most decision processes take the better part of a year to complete.

·      K-12 school districts have a greater degree of awareness of OER materials than of OER concepts and definitions. Two-thirds of all districts are aware of at least one OER full-course curriculum, with roughly a third having considered at least one for adoption.

Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2017). What we teach: K-12 school district curriculum adoption process, 2017. Wellesley, MA: Babson Survey Research Group. http://www.onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/k12oer2017/whatweteach_2017.pdf