7 Data on Awareness and Perceptions
Learning Outcome
By the end of this chapter learners will:
- Be able to create a plan for collecting data related to instructor and/or student awareness and understanding of OER
Introduction
Before launching a new OER program, it is important to understand the level of awareness and perceptions of OER among students and instructors. Data collection in this area can help program planners to assess whether instructors know what OER are, the potential benefits they can provide to students, and their level of interest in engaging with OER.
Data on perceptions can also play a role in evaluation of a program or resource. How do students and instructors feel about the OER materials they’ve used? What kinds of OER do they value the most?
Gathering Data
Data in this category is usually gathered from surveys of students and/or instructors. For example, the OER Faculty Survey from York University assessed instructor familiarity and experience with OER. Respondents were asked to agree or disagree with common statements regarding the benefits of OER. This data was used to demonstrate that there was interest in OER among faculty such that further training was warranted.
Basic Questions
- Do instructors know what OER are?
- For those not using OER, are they interested in learning more about OER?
More Complex Analyses
- How do instructors perceive the challenges facing students and the possibilities to address these using OER?
- What frustrations do students/instructors have with OER and how could these be addressed?