Evaluating the Impact of Open Educational Resources: A Case Study

This paper presents a case study of the replacement of a textbook with free to use materials in a class on Human Factors and Ergonomics. Data on exam grades, course grades, and student opinions over a total of five semesters are reported, before and after the implementation. The results show that class performance remained similar before and after. The use of free resources has not appeared to negatively affect learning outcomes. Advantages and challenges to the development and use of free materials are discussed.