This document summarizes a presentation on digital learning innovations and OER given by Tanya Joosten and Kate Lee-McCarthy. It discusses the mission of Every Learner Everywhere to promote equitable outcomes through digital learning innovations. It outlines a two-step process to identify trends in digital learning and review OER research. Preliminary findings from the OER review found that OER research primarily examines textbook replacement and finds positive impacts on student outcomes, though challenges like technology access exist. The presentation encourages downloading reports on digital learning trends and OER research findings.

1. OER & the Digital Learning
Innovation Trends Report
Tanya Joosten, DETA
Kate Lee-McCarthy, OLC
Event: OpenEd
Date: November 9-13, 2020
Location: Lightning Talk

2. 2
What Is Every Learner
Everywhere?

3. Every Learner Everywhere
Every Learner Everywhere
advocates for equitable outcomes
in U.S. higher education through
advances in digital learning.
Our mission is to help institutions use
new technology to innovate teaching
and learning, with the ultimate goal of
improving student outcomes for Black,
Latinx and Indigenous students,
poverty-affected students, and first-
generation students.

4. Who Are We?
Tanya Joosten Ph.D.
DETA
Kate Lee-McCarthy M.A.
OLC
4
Partnering to improve student success through research and innovation

5. 5
Digital Learning
Innovations

6. Digital Learning Innovations
How do we define “innovations?”
 Identify trends and gaps in digital
learning & adaptive technology
 Identify ways to utilize and/or
address those trends and gaps
 Determine if they scalable? And if
we help make them scalable?
Step 1:
Environmental Scan
of Digital Learning
Innovations Trends
6

7. Digital Learning Innovations
Step 1
Environmental Scan of Digital
Learning Innovations Trends
7
Step 2
Systemic Review and Environmental
Scan of OER
20202019

8. Digital Learning Innovation Trends
 Analysis of OLC DLI Award Winners from 2016 to 2018
 Environmental scan of digital learning peer reviewed research
conducted within the context of a postsecondary environment
from January 1, 2018 to September 1, 2019
 Environmental scan of popular media and organizations
including:
Industry leaders, national organizations advancing technology & learning,
prominent research centers, popular news and media outlets, funded initiatives, key
institutions, vendors or products of interest, and other key publications
8

9. Digital Learning Innovation Trends
2019 Report
7 Primary Trends
 Adaptive Learning
 OER
 Gamification & Game-Based Learning
 MOOCs
 LMS & Interoperability
 Mobile Devices
 Design
3 Secondary Trends
 Blended
 Dashboards
 Virtual Reality
22 Honorable Mentions
9

10. OER & Student Success
 Systematic Review
 Protocol developed for peer reviewed research including:
 Top-tier journals in digital learning, journals relevant to the field, journals
recommended by individuals in the field
 Databases including Ebsco-Host Academic Search and Education Resource
Information Center
 Environmental scan
 Protocol developed to gather popular discourse including:
 Popular media, trade organizations, trade documents, reports, and other
relevant communications or documents
10

11. Preliminary Findings
11
 There is disagreement as to what counts as OER, but textbook replacement seems most pertinent.
 Institutions that conduct research on OER tend to be public universities (2-year and 4-year)
 Courses that that use OER in research studies are across disciplines (natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities), but not
in the professions or art.
 OER research tends to examine OER as textbook replacement although some research does look at student-created OER.
 Student outcomes, such as access, learning, academic achievement, and satisfaction, course objectives, are positively influenced
by OER
 Students like OER. It is even reported to relieve stress due the reduction in costs and provide agency in student-created OER
 Challenges experienced include technology access, technology skills, copyright knowledge, self-regulation, and time
management.
 Little instructional training and support is provided, yet the integration in course design is important to usefulness and
effectiveness.
 Little student support is provided although there were several challenges reported by students.

12. Download the Digital Learning Innovation Trends
report at:
https://tinyurl.com/TrendsReport2020
Download the slides at:
https://slideshare.net/tjoosten

13. Thank you
Tanya Joosten, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist, Director of Digital Learning Research and
Development at University Wisconsin – Milwaukee,
National Research Center for Distance Education and
Technological Advancements (DETA)
tjoosten@uwm.edu | @tjoosten
Kate Lee-McCarthy, M.A.
Director of Grants,
Online Learning Consortium
Kate.LeeMcCarthy@onlinelearning-c.org | @k8mccart
Visit us for more information
Every Learner Everywhere:
https://everylearnereverywhere.org
Online Learning Consortium:
https://onlinelearningconsortium.org/
National Research Center for Distance Education and
Technological Advancements (DETA):
https://detaresearch.org