Case Study on a Shift to Open Educational Resources in an Academic Department

Karina Jackson; Royce Kimmons; Heather Leary; Richard West

doi:10.55982/openpraxis.18.1.1017

Case Study on a Shift to Open Educational Resources in an Academic Department

Open Praxis

Volume 18 (2026): Issue 1

By: Karina Jackson , Royce Kimmons , Heather Leary and Richard West

Open Access

|Feb 2026

Abstract

Open educational resources (OER) have the potential to significantly impact the landscape of higher education. However, many users of OER find it difficult to adopt programmatically due to the barriers of awareness, quality assurance, institutional culture, and sustainability. This case study of the successful adoption of OER in an education department serves as a look into the conditions and practices that allowed for the promotion, continued use, and significant production of open educational resources. Six faculty members in the department were interviewed about their experiences with OER. The results indicate that the climate, technology, and opportunity costs surrounding tenure and promotion were key factors in the faculty’s experience with acting on their inclinations toward openness.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55982/openpraxis.18.1.1017 | Journal eISSN: 2304-070X

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Language: English

Page range: 13 - 26

Submitted on: Sep 16, 2025

Accepted on: Nov 19, 2025

Published on: Feb 24, 2026

Published by: International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

open educational resources,

openness,

educational innovation,

systemic change,

diffusion of innovations,

higher education,

open textbooks

© 2026 Karina Jackson, Royce Kimmons, Heather Leary, Richard West, published by International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 18 (2026): Issue 1