This is the second webinar in the Trends in Digital Learning and OER series, which will present the latest trends on faculty opinions on digital materials followed by a panel discussion to understand how these results are reflected on campuses. We will share new data from the May 2025 Higher Education Digital Course Materials survey conducted by Bay View Analytics. The survey gathers faculty opinions on several key aspects of the student learning experience. The analysis will focus on faculty attitudes towards and use of digital versus print materials, including Open Educational Resources (OER) and how these results have changed in recent years. The findings offer a data-rich insight into faculty sentiments.
Bay View Analytics has tracked the awareness and adoption of Open Educational Resources in higher education since 2009. Supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the project has examined the evolving factors driving OER awareness and adoption. Our results include responses from over 35,000 nationally representative participants across 13 surveys. Starting in 2025, the project expanded to incorporate student perspectives.
Intended Audience:
Higher education educators, administrators, instructional support staff, and other EdTech professionals will find this webinar and discussion useful.
Key Takeaways:
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify key trends in faculty use and adoption of digital course materials, including OER
- Describe how faculty sentiments toward digital and open educational resources have evolved over time
- Analyze the alignment (or misalignment) between faculty attitudes and the instructional materials they choose
- Summarize key institutional impacts and classroom-level implications discussed by panelists regarding the adoption of digital and open materials
Please Note: While attending the webinar live is free for OLC members and non-members, on-demand recordings will be available post-webinar for Professional and Institutional Members only. Consider becoming an OLC member for access to these and many other great benefits!
Speaker Bio
Olena Zhadko, Ph.D.Interim University Executive Director of CUNY Online, City University of New York
Dr. Olena Zhadko is an accomplished higher education leader with more than a decade of experience driving innovation at the intersection of digital learning, faculty development, strategic planning, and institutional transformation. She currently serves as Interim University Executive Director of CUNY Online at the City University of New York, where she partners with campuses to expand access to high-quality online degree programs and build an inclusive, future-focused online learning ecosystem that advances student success. A recognized voice in the national dialogue on digital learning, Dr. Zhadko is co-author of
Best Practices for Mentoring in Online Programs: Supporting Faculty and Students in Higher Education (Routledge, 2023),
Best Practices in Designing Courses with Open Educational Resources (Routledge, 2020), and the forthcoming 5th edition of
Teaching Online: A Practical Guide (Routledge, 2026).
Kim Grewe, Ph.D.Instructional Designer, Northern Virginia Community College Online
Dr. Kim Grewe is an educator, scholar, online learning enthusiast, community college leader, and champion of open education. Kim serves primarily as an Instructional Designer at Northern Virginia Community College Online (NOVA Online), where she collaborates with peers to create engaging asynchronous online learning experiences for students. As an advocate for open education and the OER Lead at NOVA Online, her design strategies amplify student voice and encourage real-world and authentic applications of learning. Outside of work, Kim enjoys reading philosophy, literature and science fiction, birdwatching, practicing yoga, and hiking in the beautiful high desert landscapes of Northern California with her partner Scott and dog Baby.
Julia Seaman, Ph.D.Director of Research, Bay View Analytics
Dr. Julia Seaman has extensive experience in survey research as well as competitive intelligence and translational research. She has worked and published across a wide range of qualitative and quantitative projects. Along with her publications at Bay View Analytics, Dr. Seaman’s projects include publishing on statistical practices in ASQ, and consulting for several biotechnology start-ups. Dr. Seaman has published in scientific, statistical, and quality control journals, including Cell Death and Differentiation, BMC Anesthesiology, and Journal of Quality Progress, as well as serving as statistical and scientific reviewer for BMC journals and UCSF Health Awards.
