A Needs Assessment of ODL Educators to Determine Their Effective Use of Open Educational Resources

Nigeria has joined the global race of teaching and learning in a changing educational environment
by adopting open and distance learning (ODL). Although it is a global trend, ODL
poses some challenges at local levels, one of which is the untimely production of teaching
materials currently affecting instructional delivery in Nigeria. The modern approach
to ameliorating this challenge is the deployment of open educational resources (OER), and
this practice is enabled by information and communication technology (ICT). Hence, today?s
educators need OER tools and ICT skills to address the changing nature of education.
This paper assessed the needs, readiness, and willingness of ODL professionals from two
dual-mode universities in Nigeria to deploy OER in teaching and learning. Data were collected
using structured questionnaire items. The major findings of the study?s survey indicated
that educators have not really embedded OER in teaching and learning, but they are
very eager to be trained in the rudiments of OER and wish to employ them thereafter. The
results indicate there is an urgent need for professional development to include training in
the rudiments of OER for educators.
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