Awareness and knowledge of Open Educational Resources (OERs) among postgraduate students in Ghanaian universities

Abstract

Open Educational Resources (OERs) proficiently enhance academic resources and help promote affordable, accessible education. However, much is not known in terms of the knowledge, awareness, and sources of information about OERs among postgraduate students in Ghanaian universities. This present study examined postgraduate students' awareness, knowledge, and sources of OERs. It employed a quantitative method, using a survey study design. Data was collected with self-administered questionnaires, 344 postgraduate students responded from across the three Ghanaian universities, and analyzed using Special Package for Statistical Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Findings from this study revealed that OERs were generally accessible through platforms like Sakai Learning Management System, Moodle, and other institutional repositories. Although many students demonstrated some basic level of awareness, a significant proportion of the students lacked familiarity with specific OERs and their components. The university libraries were identified as dominant providers of OER materials, alongside academic advisors, conferences, and colleagues. The findings from this study also emphasize the need for targeted educational interventions, such as workshops, training programs, and promotional activities, to bridge the awareness-usage gap to foster effective and efficient OER implementation.