OPEN EDUCATION RESOURCES AWARENESS AND USE AMONG LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE UNDERGRADUATES IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Open educational resources are free online media and documents that are used for teaching and learning. This study examined open educational resources awareness and use among Library and Information Science undergraduates in Kwara State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design approach was adopted using a questionnaire developed by the researchers based on reviewed literature. The population comprised 1,323 undergraduates in the universities accredited for Library and Information Science Degree programme in Kwara State, Nigeria by the National Universities Commission. Data collection was done using Google Form and administered through dedicated WhatsApp forums specific to each population. The findings revealed a high level of awareness and use of open educational resources among the respondents. Also, a significant positive correlation was found between open educational resources awareness and use (r = .419, p (.000) < .05). However, no significant relationship was observed between gender and open educational resources use of the respondents (r = -.612, p (.437) > .05). Based on the findings, it was recommended that university administrators should prioritise ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply in the universities, particularly the libraries. Library management and librarians should regularly organise seminars and workshops aimed at increasing awareness of open educational resources among undergraduates and promoting the benefits of open educational resources use for their academic pursuits and improving students' information retrieval skills. Faculty members should also encourage open educational resources use by their students through uploading their publications to their respective university’s institutional repository.