Open Educational Resources: A New High-Impact Practice

Open Educational Resources: A New High-Impact Practice presents findings from a two-year, mixed-methods study examining the relationship between OER implementation and student success. The study analyzed nearly 700,000 student records from 15 institutions representing six Carnegie-derived institutional classifications, as well as survey and focus group data from more than 200 instructors.

The findings indicate that OER implementation can positively influence student success outcomes while making higher education more accessible and affordable. Based on the evidence, the report concludes that OER implementation merits recognition as a high-impact practice (HIP)—teaching and learning practices shown to provide significant educational benefits for students, particularly those from populations historically underserved by higher education.

The report also highlights the importance of institutional support for successful OER implementation, including professional development, instructional design assistance, and resources that enable faculty to adapt and integrate open educational materials effectively.

Key Findings

• OER implementation was associated with lower course withdrawal rates, though the magnitude of the effect varied by institutional context.
• The number of students earning A grades increased following OER implementation across all institutional contexts examined in the study.
• Students who completed at least one OER-supported course demonstrated improved time-to-completion outcomes, particularly those taking longer than four years to earn a credential.
• One-third of instructors reported changing their teaching and learning practices after implementing OER, suggesting that OER adoption can influence course design and pedagogy.
• OER implementation showed particular promise for supporting student success among populations historically underserved by higher education.
• Faculty experiences varied considerably depending on institutional support, underscoring the importance of professional development, instructional design assistance, funding, and time for course redesign.
• The findings support recognition of OER implementation as a high-impact practice, with benefits extending beyond affordability to student engagement, persistence, and success.

Access the report appendices.