OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AS AN ELIXIR OF EFFECTIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING: A CONCEPTUAL OVERVIEW

Abstract

The development of the information society and the widespread diffusion of information technology compound by the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and its’ offshoots, have given rise to new opportunities for teaching and learning especially in institutions of higher learning.  This paper is a conceptualization of digital open educational resources as an elixir of effective teaching and learning in institutions of higher learning.  It adopted a qualitative research method, using the explanatory research approach through which relevant literature on open educational resources (OERs) were reviewed and analyzed in line with the four objectives that guided the review.  Apart from conceptualizing OERs, the paper identified and explained the theories of OERs as well as OERs as being employed for teaching and learning in institutions of higher learning among others. The paper noted that OERs is presently revolutionizing teaching and learning more so in higher education especially in massive open online courses (MOOCs) distant learning and has increased accessibility to learning in that with it, broader people are reached and learning easily made accessible even to those with limited resources.  The paper deduced that since the lecturers’ role as supplier of reading lists and teaching materials is diminishing, OER is likely to accelerate transformation in the traditional lecturing role and the solution of more independent students.  Above all, with OERs, an increase in non-formal and formal learning can be expected to enhance the demand for assessment and recognition of competences gained outside formal learning setting. The suggestions inter-alia are that the government of a country like Nigeria, should equip all institutions of higher learning with state-of-the-art information and communication technology gadgets in tandem with what is obtained in higher institutions of developed nations and students and lecturers, should utilize OERs at their best in realizing their educational goals and in contributing meaningfully in a digital global biosphere ruled by information and technology.