The Impact of Open Resources on Learning Retention and

Real-World Application Jasmine Roberts

Strategic Communication LecturerSchool of Communication at The Ohio State

University @ProfJasmine

2017 Open Education Global Conference

Agenda• Status of open education in the U.S. • Contributing factors of open education implementation • Problem within the current college textbook model• Experience adopting open resources into the classroom

Authorship Impact on teaching Impact of students (survey results)

Learning retention and real-world application

The status of open education in the U.S.

• Steadily increasing over the years•Examples: • University of Minnesota Library University of California, Irvine (Open Courseware) Carnegie Mellon University Open Learning Initiative Harvard University Open Learning Initiatives

Contributing factors to the open movement• Lack of affordability in U.S. higher education

Tuition, room & board, textbooks • American college students spend on average $1,200 on textbooks (NBC News Report, 2011)

The problem with traditional textbooks 1. Not affordable (College Board, 2013)

a. Humanities ($60)b. Social Sciences ($80)c. STEM ($120)

2. Limited instructor autonomy 3. Lack of adaptability to instructor's desire(s)

Why aren't more instructors joining the open movement?

• Lack of knowledge on where to start• Negative perceptions toward open materials• Lack of financial, departmental, or university support

The role of universities

More universities worldwide need to offer institutional support for instructors who want to be a part of the open movement. Go beyond the form of a library Empower intellectual ability through institutional support

The Ohio State University Affordable Learning Exchange

(ALX)• Stems from OSU 2020 Vision • Cross campus partnership and institutional push to be a part of the open source movement • Help OSU faculty find “creative solutions that promote student savings” and “encourage innovation”

Reimagine textbooks and other course materials to turn them into more affordable options

• 2016 cohort of grant recipients projected to save Ohio State students approximately $1 million U.S. dollars

Authorship process• Examine current traditional textbook for the course

• Examine course curriculum and used this as the foundation for the open textbook outline

• Identify specific need for students and course learning outcomes

•Develop timeline (transformation process) with the assistance of ALX team

Gathering open materials • Previous lecture notes• Popular sources• Open sources from Creative Commons • Materials from industry experts • Peer-reviewed sources• Wrote textbook May 2016-August 2016• Peer-review from OSU School of Communication faculty

• Interactive videos based on interviews from industry experts• Video creation by OSU Office of Distance Education and eLearning • Interviews conducted by principal investigator

Impact of open resources on teaching

• Reexamine course effectiveness and design

• Soft-flipped classroom • Allowed for more time for hands-on activities to ensure learning outcomes and course objectives

• Identify several experts of course material• Not just instructor

Impact of open resources on learning retention and real-world application • Surveyed 49 students at the end of the 2016 autumn semester • Class: Writing for Strategic Communication

• Most students were strategic communication majors

• Goal: gauge overall feedback of the open textbook as well as its impact on course objectives

Limitations of methodology • Lack of external validity • No control group • Social desirability effect• Nuances of results lacking

General areas of study• Accessibility • Retention of open material• Perception of textbook compared to traditional textbooks used in other classes • Impact of textbook on student academic success• Impact of textbook on real-world application• Impact of textbook on skill development • Open-ended feedback

Accessibility Results

How did you typically access the textbook? Choose the method you use most. Percentage

On my cell phone 14.29%On my tablet 2.04%

On my laptop 81.63%On my desktop computer at home/dorm 2.04%

On someone else’s computer (for example, a lab, library, or friend’s computer) 0.00%

I printed the textbook materials 0.00%Total 100.00%

Retention of Open Material Results#

I was able to retain or remember most of the

information from the chapter r...

Percentage

1 Strongly Agree 55.10%2 Agree 36.73%3 Somewhat agree 6.12%

4 Neither agree nor disagree 0.00%

5 Somewhat disagree 2.04%6 Disagree 0.00%7 Strongly disagree 0.00% Total 100.00%

Retention of Open Material

I was able to identify key information from the assigned

readings.Percentage

Strongly agree 61.70%Agree 34.04%

Somewhat agree 4.26%Neither agree nor disagree 0.00%

Somewhat disagree 0.00%Disagree 0.00%

Strongly disagree 0.00%Total 100.00%

Perception of textbook compared to traditional textbooks used in other classes

Perception of textbook compared to traditional textbooks used in other

classes

Impact of textbook on student academic success

The textbook contributed to my academic success in the course (ex:

doing we...Percentage

Strongly Agree 73.47%

Agree 22.45%

Somewhat agree 2.04%

Neither agree nor disagree 2.04%

Somewhat disagree 0.00%

Disagree 0.00%

Strongly disagree 0.00%

Total 100.00%

Impact of textbook on real-world application

The textbook helped me to apply the class material to real-

world situations...Percentage

Strongly Agree 57.14%Agree 26.53%

Somewhat agree 12.24%Neither agree nor disagree 4.08%

Somewhat disagree 0.00%Disagree 0.00%

Strongly disagree 0.00%Total 100.00%

Impact of textbook on skill development

Open-ended feedback In my opinion, this is the most effective use of a textbook. Instead of requiring students to buy an $80 textbook, that's loaded with useless material, this textbook is straightforward, and free. Usually when teachers assign readings, I don't read them because I know they will be covered in class the next day, and I don't want to spend 2 hours reading 25 pages of banter.

This textbook is to the point, easy to read, and actually allows me to learn. It's accessible, and tailored specifically to this class. I think every class should make their textbooks this way.

Open-ended feedback

I really enjoy the book and how concise and helpful [it] is in writing for strategic communications. The way the information [includes] real world examples and videos of people who are actually living out the information in the book helps understand just how applicable the information is. Overall, this has probably been one of my favorite class textbooks so far in my collegiate experience.

Open-ended feedback

After reading the chapters, I feel well-prepared for class lectures, discussions and quizzes. I love that fact that it was free. I believe that not charging money for the textbook put more [of an] emphasis on the success of students and fosters a creative learning environment.

Open-ended feedback I NEVER buy the textbooks for my classes unless it is absolutely necessary. Jasmine made it clear [the] textbook was required, but she offered it for free! This as a student was incredible! I have had professors who have had their own textbooks and require students to purchase the books at a ridiculous price.

Having the textbook offered free and designed to Jasmine's teaching style really encouraged an effective learning environment and gave purpose to actually reading the textbook. I wish all my classes had this!

Implications • Open education works!

Debunks the notion that open materials do not adequately prepare students

• Motivation for new open education professionals as well as seasoned scholars • More work to be done

Need for more institutional support at universities worldwide