Open Educational Resources: Students’ Perspectives

Antonina Bauman*, The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina 
Geetha Lakshmikanth, Emporia State University

https://doi.org/10.9743/JEO.2026.23.1.1

Abstract

Since their early days of adoption, Open Educational Resources (OERs) have been discussed from the perspectives of administrators, accrediting agencies, regulators, faculty, and students. This paper presents students’ perspectives of the use of OERs in courses from two different disciplines, Information Systems and Strategic Management. The study is based on survey data collected from students at one Midwestern university in the United States, with most students coming from a first-generation background. The purpose of this study was to learn about students’ perception of OER, specifically, to understand the efficacy of these resources in providing the desired course outcomes and to understand the students’ preference for which type of resources that aid in efficient learning. The results presented here account for student survey data gathered from multiple semesters. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and Strauss and Corbin’s (1998) inductive methodology of qualitative research. The findings offer not only students’ opinions of OER but also highlight their preferences for the type of resources used in class, thus helping educators to choose the ones that are aimed at achieving course learning objectives and meeting student expectations.

Keywords: open educational resources, OER, accessibility, affordability, free resources, student learning experience

*abauman@citadel.edu