Repositories of Open Educational Resources: An Assessment of Reuse and Educational Aspects

Authors

Gema Santos-Hermosa University of Barcelona http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2776-871X
Núria Ferran-Ferrer Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOCX http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9037-8837
Ernest Abadal University of Barcelona http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9151-6437

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v18i5.3063

Keywords:

repositories, open educational resources, OER, evaluation, reuse, higher education

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the current state of repositories of open educational resources (ROER) in higher education at international level. It analyses a series of educational indicators to determine whether ROER can meet the specific needs of the education context, and to clarify understanding of the reuse of open educational resources (OER) provided by ROER. The aim of the study is to assess ROER by combining these two perspectives, and to form a basis for discussion among the universities that are responsible for these repositories.

The method was based on content analysis and consisted of two phases: an exploration of international sources, and an analysis of 110 ROER using the proposed set of indicators. The results focus on data from the analysis of ROER websites and some models of good practices. They are presented according to three core dimensions for evaluating ROER: general factors to establish types of ROER, a focus on drivers for OER reuse, and a focus on educational aspects. It was found that most of the ROER that included one or more of the proposed reuse indicators were created exclusively for educational resources. Educational aspects are not yet firmly embedded into ROER. The few repositories that seem to have successfully included them are those that provide other educational metadata and use educational standards.

Author Biographies

Gema Santos-Hermosa, University of Barcelona

Associate lecturer and doctoral student at University of Barcelona UB).

Educational Resources-Magnament, Library Learning Support Service, Open University of Catalonia (UOC).

Núria Ferran-Ferrer, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOCX

Lecturer. Faculty of Information and Communication Sciences

Ernest Abadal, University of Barcelona

Full Professor of the Faculty of Library and Information Science, University of Barcelona.

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Published

2017-08-15

How to Cite

Santos-Hermosa, G., Ferran-Ferrer, N., & Abadal, E. (2017). Repositories of Open Educational Resources: An Assessment of Reuse and Educational Aspects. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 18(5). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v18i5.3063

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Issue

Vol. 18 No. 5 (2017)

Section

Research Articles

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