ERIC Number: EJ869415
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Nov
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1492-3831
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Incentives and Disincentives for the Use of OpenCourseWare
Arendt, Anne M.; Shelton, Brett E.
International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, v10 n5 Nov 2009
This article examines Utah residents' views of incentives and disincentives for the use of OpenCourseWare (OCW), and how they fit into the theoretical framework of perceived innovation attributes established by Rogers (1983). Rogers identified five categories of perceived innovation attributes: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. A survey instrument was developed using attributes that emerged from a Delphi technique with input from experts in the OCW field. The survey instrument was sent to 753 random individuals between 18 and 64 years of age throughout Utah. Results indicated that the greatest incentives for OCW use were the following: (a) "no cost for materials", (b) "resources available at any time", (c) "pursuing in depth a topic that interests me", (d) "learning for personal knowledge or enjoyment", and (e) "materials in an OCW are fairly easy to access and find". The greatest disincentives for OCW use were the following: a) "no certificate or degree awarded", (b) "does not cover my topic of interest in the depth I desire", (c) "lack of professional support provided by subject tutors or experts", (d) "lack of guidance provided by support specialists", and (e) "feeling that the material is overwhelming". The authors recommend that institutions work to transition some OCW users into degree-granting paid programs as well as adopt a marketing campaign to increase awareness of OCW. Additionally, OCW websites should make their content available to recommendation engines such as ccLearn iscoverEd, OCW Finder, or OER Recommender and should link to one or more of these sites. (Contains 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Delphi Technique, Educational Innovation, Predictor Variables, Program Effectiveness, Performance Factors, Educational Resources, Open Education, Courseware, Barriers, Mail Surveys, Program Attitudes, Use Studies, Interest Inventories
Athabasca University. 1200, 10011 - 109 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8, Canada. Tel: 780-421-2536; Fax: 780-497-3416; e-mail: irrodl@athabascau.ca; Web site: http://www.irrodl.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Utah
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A