A new American Association of Colleges and Universities report on open-educational resources has found that these free resources lead to better student outcomes. Through a two-year study, the report authors found that courses that were designed with free course materials for students often had lower withdrawals, higher grades, and a decreased time to graduation for community college students. The study also noted that customizing OERs to courses can be labour intensive for faculty and may require “shifts in teaching practice, course design, and professional identity.” The authors outline ways that institutions can support the use of OERs with dedicated supports for faculty, including financial, time, and personnel supports.
