The goal of this qualitative research study was to explore the implementation strategies and methods of Open Educational Resources (OER) and programs that universities are currently using in order to detect and analyze trends regarding phases of analysis, adoption, optimization, evaluation, and stabilization. OER are digital course materials located in the public domain to help provide high-quality educational opportunities for students, faculty, and institutions at very little cost. In order to identify the connection between certain factors such as the characteristics of OER, the strategies used in regard to satisfaction, quality, cost, and development of OER, and the kind of support institutions should provide have been investigated. Interviews were conducted with 15 participants from three universities with minimum criteria and demographics. The qualitative findings were coded and themed according to the sub-questions they represent. At each level of analysis, a constant comparison was used to distill the data further, until themes emerged from the data. This study was successful at identifying 10 themes that influence OER implementation: initial assessment, core implementation support, student support, statewide and campus initiatives, promotion strategies, faculty support, diffusion for enculturation, adjustments, impact assessment, and sustainability. This study offers meaningful resources andkey elements to create a successful OER implementation process for higher education institutions.

Keywords

OER implementation · promotion · diffusion