This document summarizes the findings of a study on the attitudes of academic staff at Tallinn University towards open educational resources (OER). The study found that around half of academics were familiar with OER, but only a small percentage had good experience creating them. Most academics saw themselves as both creators and learners of OER. Common materials published as OER included lecture notes, courses, and articles. The biggest challenges to creating OER were lack of time and skills. While many academics saw value in OER, they had concerns about lack of rewards or financial benefits for their contributions. The study concluded that motivation, training, and reward systems are needed to encourage more academics to participate in OER.

1. Attitudes of Academic Staff towards
Open Educational Resources
at Tallinn University
Muharrem Yılmaz
Erasmus Mundus Scholar
International Master in Digital Library Learning
Tallinn University, Institute of Information Studies, Tallinn, Estonia
yilmaz.muharrem@gmail.com

2. Agenda
• Introduction
• Background of the Study
• Objectives
• Attitudes of Academics towards OER
• Conclusion
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3. Introduction
OERs are defined as: “technology-enabled, open provision of educational
resources for consultation, use and adaptation by a community of users
for non-commercial purposes” (UNESCO, 2002).
Learning Content
Tools
Implementation resources
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57361484@N05/5633384584
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4. …introduction
LLL
necessary
‘open’
open and
movement
distance
universities
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wakingtiger/4097835586/
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5. Background of the Study
• In educational institutions and universities, faculty
members/academics, as creators of OER, are in the center of the entire
process.
motivation and barriers
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6. Objectives
• The level of contribution, expectations, attitudes and perceptions of
academics of Tallinn University towards OER
How? For
Why? whom?
‘academic’s point of view as a creator of OER’
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7. Findings -1
Attitudes of academic staff towards OER
Familarity with concept of OER
22%
47%
Familiar
Partly amiliar
31%
not familiar
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8. Findings -2
Attitudes of academic staff towards OER
Experience of academics with OER
12%
31%
14% Average
Poor
15% Good
28% Below average
Excellent
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9. Findings -3
Attitudes of academic staff towards OER
Roles of academics with OER
39% 35%
Creator / Contributor
Learner
Both
26%
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10. Findings -4
Attitudes of academic staff towards OER
Type of materials published as OER by academics
Material type Rate Material type Rate
Lecture notes 22.66% Thesis or 11.72%
dissertation
Individual 13.28% Refereed article 7.81%
curriculum units
Open online 13.28% Book chapters 5.47%
courses
Articles 13.28% Digital textbooks 5.47%
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11. Findings -5
Attitudes of academic staff towards OER
OER tools which academics use to create OER
Institutional based
coursewares/softwares
Public based
10% 4% 20% coursewares/softwares
15% Web pages
11%
Social network
16%
24% Learning onject softwares
Wikis
Other
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12. Findings -6
Attitudes of academic staff towards OER
Most used OER contents
2% 2%
5%
16% Text based
Graphic based
53%
Video based
22% Audio based
All
Other
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13. Findings -7
Attitudes of academic staff towards OER
Reasons to publish works as OER
Academic purpose
2%
Promoting scientific
6% research and education
9% 28% Bringing down costs for
9% learner
Altruistic
14%
18% Becoming independent of
15% publishers
Reputation
Obligatory / Policy
Other
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14. Findings -8
Attitudes of academic staff towards OER
Problems/Challenges for creating OER
Problem/Challenge Rate Problem/Challenge Rate
Lack of time 32% Lack of budgetary 4%
provision
Lack of skills 12% Lack of understanding in 3%
open education
No reward system for 10% Lack of business model for 3%
employees to devoting open content initiatives
time and energy
Lack of management 8% Poor quality of open 2%
level support education
No perceived value in 6% The usability of open 2%
open education educational content
Lack of hard-, software 5% Lack of product 2%
innovation within
organization
Lack of pedagogical 5% Content not appropriate 1%
innovation to our needs
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15. Findings -9
Attitudes of academic staff towards OER
Authority to decide the quality of OER
Authority in the
university
24% 33% Authority from the
professional board at
the national level
18%
Authority from the
24%
professional board at
international level
Other
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16. Findings -10
Attitudes of academic staff towards OER
Opinions about financial benefit in return for
contribution to OER
3%
7%
7%
Agree
51% Neutral
32% Strongly agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
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17. Findings -11
Attitudes of academic staff towards OER
Opinions about academic rewarding in return
for contribution to OER
5%
19%
50% Agree
Neutral
26% Strongly agree
Disagree
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18. Findings -12
Demographic Information of participants
Age
12% 12% 25-29
16% 21% 30-34
35-40
8% 41-44
6% 45-50
25%
50-60
Over 60
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19. Findings -13
Demographic Information of participants
Position
6%
12%
42% Lecturer
14%
Researcher
Professor
36% Associate Professor
Other
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20. Findings -14
Demographic Information of participants
Departments / Institutions
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21. Conclusions
• Motivation and encouraging of academics is very important in order to
have a fruitful product and sustain the OER.
• Introduce OER to academics
• Give weight to reward mechanisms.
• Inform the OER community about general feelings of creators
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22. PRESENTATION NAME
Company Name
http://www.flickr.com/photos/openmichigan/3288441714

23. Questions & Comments
Muharrem Yılmaz
Erasmus Mundus Scholar
International Master in Digital Library Learning
Tallinn University, Institute of Information Studies, Tallinn, Estonia
yilmaz.muharrem@gmail.com
THANK YOU
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