OpenLearn Research Report published

The Open University has published a research report which is now available online (see link below). The report evaluates the impact OpenLearn has had internally and externally and the challenges that lie ahead in open content and establishing open learning networks.

The research report brings together several case studies, reports and reflections from the OpenLearn team over the last two years, delivering several perspectives on the provision of Open Educational Resources (OER).

Patrick McAndrew, Research and Evaluation Director for OpenLearn said:

“OpenLearn has been a really fascinating research opportunity. We wanted to find out what the impact was on us as an organisation; how we could help other people who wanted to provide their material available for free; and perhaps most importantly, what learners got out of having access to all this open material”.

The report highlights many successes – OpenLearn has made over 10,000 hours of content freely available; had over 5 million unique visitors; enabled new partnerships, as well as enhancing relationships with current strategic partners; and resulted in more than 10,000 Open University course registrations.

The publication of the research report comes at an interesting time as Prime Minister Gordon Brown recognises the achievements of the Open University and has donated £7.8 million to enhance it’s national role, working with other institutions to further develop distance learning for the benefit of the whole higher education sector (see National Role news story).

The Open University’s research into OER is now conducted for OLnet (see link below) in collaboration with Carnegie-Mellon University, funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.