Reporting the evidence: opportunities and challenges of OER adoption in Australia

This paper presents some of the findings of a centrally funded research project that investigates the state of play of Open Educational Resources (OER) in Australia, in particular findings related to the opportunities and challenges involved with the adoption of OER. Opportunities and challenges are also two aspects of the Feasibility Protocol, which is a major research deliverable of this project. This project surveyed the higher and distance education sector in Australia and interviewed key stakeholders. According to participants, the use of OER has the potential to lead to new pedagogical practices, can improve the quality of educational learning materials, and promote social inclusion across the Australian higher educational sector. However, there are still challenges to be overcome such as current academic culture, lack of awareness and issues related to finding quality materials. These will be discussed in light of recent development in this field