Maintaining Momentum Toward Graduation: OER and the Course Throughput Rate

Keywords

open educational resources, computers in education, textbooks, financing education

Abstract

Open Educational Resources (OER) have the potential to replace traditional textbooks in higher education. Previous studies indicate that use of OER results in high student and faculty satisfaction, lower costs, and similar or better educational outcomes. In this case study, we compared students using traditional textbooks with those using OER at Tidewater Community College to compare their performance on what we call course throughput rates, which is an aggregate of three variables – drop rates, withdrawal rates, and C or better rates. Two self-selecting cohorts were compared over four semesters, with statistically significant results. The study found that, subject to the limitations discussed, students who use OER perform significantly better on the course throughput rate than their peers who use traditional textbooks, in both face-to-face and online courses that use OER. This suggests that OER are a promising avenue for reducing the costs of higher education while increasing academic success.

Original Publication Citation

John Hilton III, Lane Fischer, David Wiley, and Linda Williams, “Maintaining Momentum Toward Graduation: OER and the Course Throughput Rate,” International Review of Research on Distance and Open Learning, 17(6): 1-10 (2016).

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2016

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/6190

Publisher

IRRODL

Language

English

College

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology

Department

Technology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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