scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Open Educational Resources in College Calculus. A Quantitative Study

Open Praxis ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 185
Author(s):  
Scott Kersey
Keyword(s):  
Open Educational Resources ◽  
Educational Resources ◽  
Online Homework ◽  
Multilinear Regression ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Exam Scores ◽  
Significant Measure ◽  
Face To Face Instruction ◽  
College Calculus

We investigate Open Educational Resources (OER) in post-secondary Calculus with face-to-face instruction using web-based homework in a side-by-side comparison with Closed (Proprietary) Educational Resources (CER). Statistical analyses using multilinear regression models are developed to demonstrate several significant effects, to within a probability of 5%. Our first finding is that students’ pretest scores and access dates to online homework were both significant factors in predicting first exam scores. While pretest scores were similar between the groups, students in the OER group accessed the online homework earlier in the semester, which contributed to higher first exam scores. Second, homework scores were significantly higher in the CER group, which was a significant measure of final exam scores. In understanding this result, we cite student comments suggesting the proprietary CER homework system had more resources providing help on problems. However, the differences in final course grades were not significant. We conclude from our study that the OER materials are effective, but recommend that care is taken to ensure the free materials provide a quality experience.

A Comparison of Academic Outcomes in Courses Taught With Open Educational Resources and Publisher Content

2021 ◽  
pp. 0013189X2110525
Author(s):  
Linda Bol ◽  
Monica Christina Esqueda ◽  
Diane Ryan ◽  
Sue C. Kimmel
Keyword(s):  
Student Success ◽  
Course Completion ◽  
Open Educational Resources ◽  
Educational Resources ◽  
Completion Rates ◽  
Introductory Courses ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Persistence Rates ◽  
Exam Scores

What difference do open educational resources (OER) make compared with publisher content (non-OER) when costs and instructors remain constant? A total of 215 community college students enrolled in online, introductory courses were randomly assigned to OER or non-OER sections and compared on retention at the tuition drop date, completion with a C or better, course completion, and mean final exam scores. Students in the OER sections were retained and persisted at a statistically significant higher rate, lending credibility to the findings of former studies regarding retention and persistence rates in courses taught with OER materials. No statistically significant differences were found on completion rates or final exam scores. OER course materials should be considered in broader initiatives for student success in community colleges.

scholarly journals Lessons Learned from the Development of Open Educational Resources at Post-Secondary Level in the Field of Environmental Modelling: An Exploratory Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quazi K. Hassan ◽  
Khan R. Rahaman ◽  
Kazi Z. Sumon ◽  
Ashraf Dewan
Keyword(s):  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Open Educational Resources ◽  
Educational Resources ◽  
Environmental Modelling ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Creative Commons ◽  
Student Ratings Of Instruction ◽  
University Of Calgary ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Open educational resources (OER) have become increasingly popular in recent times. Here, the aim was to synthesise the lessons learned through the development of OER materials for a university-level course called “environmental modelling”. Consequently, the topics of discussion included: (i) how to choose an appropriate creative commons license; (ii) ways of incorporating materials from other sources, such as publicly available sources, other open access materials, and an author’s own published materials if not published under a creative commons license; (iii) the impact of the developed OER in the field of environmental modelling; and (iv) the challenges in developing OER material. Upon developing the materials, we observed the following: (i) students enrolled in the course did not purchase textbooks; (ii) our OER materials ranked as one of the most accessed (i.e., number 7) materials according to the usage data that summed the number of file downloads and item views from PRISM (i.e., the hosting platform maintained by the University of Calgary); (iii) the students learned relatively better as per the data acquired by the University of Calgary’s universal student ratings of instruction (USRI) instrument; and (iv) other universities expressed interest in adopting the materials.

scholarly journals On the Efficacy of Open Educational Resources

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huimei Delgado ◽  
Michael Delgado ◽  
John Hilton III
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Open Educational Resources ◽  
Educational Resources ◽  
Exam Performance ◽  
Pell Grant ◽  
Large Sample Size ◽  
Educational Materials ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Open educational resources (OER), which are free and openly licensed educational materials, have been a widely discussed topic in response to high textbook costs, the need for more pedagogical flexibility, and inequality in access to educational materials. In this study we examine the efficacy of OER through a quantitative analysis of the impact of OER on student final exam performance in a large calculus course. Our dataset affords us a relatively large sample size, allows us to classify students in both treatment and control groups, and includes a variety of covariates that allow us to control for multiple correlated factors. We estimate causal treatment effects using several econometric approaches. Our study adds the following insights into the research on OER efficacy: (i) OER materials do not, in general, lead to any significant change in student final exam performance; and (ii) OER materials have a significantly positive impact on both international students and Pell Grant eligible students.

scholarly journals Incentivizing with Bonus in a College Statistics Course

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 93
Author(s):  
Victoria Ingalls
Keyword(s):  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Private University ◽  
Online Homework ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
Internal Motivation ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Statistics Course ◽  
Exam Scores ◽  
Bonus Points

Many studies have argued the negative effects of external rewards on internal motivation while others assert that external motivation does not necessarily undermine intrinsic motivation. At a private university, students were given the option to earn bonus points for achieving mastery in the online homework systems associated with Statistics and Pre-Calculus courses. The results showed a significant difference in online homework grades and final exam scores, dependent upon when the incentive was given. The findings of this research suggest that college students thrive when incentivized. When compared to the students who were not incentivized, the incentivized group had a statistically significantly higher mean for both online homework scores and final exam scores. Many of the incentivized students chose to take the opportunity to earn the bonus points to increase the final semester grade, which apparently also helped to increase the content knowledge necessary for the final exam.

scholarly journals Exploring Open Educational Resources for College Algebra

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela Chiorescu
Keyword(s):  
Student Success ◽  
Hybrid Learning ◽  
College Algebra ◽  
Open Educational Resources ◽  
Educational Resources ◽  
Post Secondary Education ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
School Year ◽  
College Instructor

<p class="3">It is estimated that the average student spends around 1200 USD on books and supplies every school year; thus, textbook affordability has become more and more of a challenge for students. Replacing traditionally expensive learning resources with open educational resources (OER) can have a great impact in the reduction of cost for post-secondary education and student learning. With these benefits as a backdrop, this article describes a case study in which one college instructor adopted OER for College Algebra, offered as a hybrid learning model. This paper discusses this experience with adopting such materials and their impact on student success.</p>

ACCESS TO EDUCATION WITH ONLINE LEARNING AND OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: CAN THEY CLOSE THE GAP?

2008 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Geith ◽  
Karen Vignare
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Global Education ◽  
Open Educational Resources ◽  
Educational Resources ◽  
Access To Education ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Right To Education ◽  
Education Gap ◽  
The Right ◽  
Compare And Contrast

One of the key concepts in the right to education is access: access to the means to fully develop as human beings as well as access to the means to gain skills, knowledge and credentials. This is an important perspective through which to examine the solutions to access enabled by Open Educational Resources (OER) and online learning. The authors compare and contrast OER and online learning and their potential for addressing human rights “to” and “in” education. The authors examine OER and online learning growth and financial sustainability and discuss potential scenarios to address the global education gap.

Transitioning to Blended Learning: Understanding Student and Faculty Perceptions

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanette P. Napier ◽  
Sonal Dekhane ◽  
Stella Smith
Keyword(s):  
Blended Learning ◽  
Student Performance ◽  
Liberal Arts ◽  
Faculty Perceptions ◽  
Liberal Arts College ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Faculty Teaching ◽  
Face To Face Instruction ◽  
The Impact

This paper describes the conversion of an introductory computing course to the blended learning model at a small, public liberal arts college. Blended learning significantly reduces face-to-face instruction by incorporating rich, online learning experiences. To assess the impact of blended learning on students, survey data was collected at the midpoint and end of semester, and student performance on the final exam was compared in traditional and blended learning sections. To capture faculty perspectives on teaching blended learning courses, written reflections and discussions from faculty teaching blended learning sections were analyzed. Results indicate that student performance in the traditional and blended learning sections of the course were comparable and that students reported high levels of interaction with their instructor. Faculty teaching the course share insights on transitioning to the blended learning format.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document