FROM TEXTBOOKS TO OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER)

Governments want professors to publish their work in open libraries for better utilisation of invested money. Publishers report a reduction in textbook sales, and the resources available on Internet is increasing. Both professor and students are using open material form libraries and other Internet based resources. This seems to be the overall picture.

In our small study, in one department at our university, we have looked at two questions related to OER:
Q1: To what extent are the university professors using OER material from the Internet in their syllabus?
Q2: To what extent are the university professors willing to publish their own learning material as OER?

The results from the study gives an overview of the current situation and we discuss possible driving forces behind the changes. Learning material produced by professors is a valuable resource. The study shows that only a small percentage of this material becomes available as an OER. We discuss the reasons for not making the material available and suggest possible incentives for improving the situation.