COLLABORATION AMONG FINAL YEAR LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE STUDENTS FOR ENHANCING AWARENESS AND UTILIZATION OF OPEN EDUCATION RESOURCES IN AWKA STUDY CENTRE, NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
COLLABORATION AMONG FINAL YEAR LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE STUDENTS FOR ENHANCING AWARENESS AND UTILIZATION OF OPEN EDUCATION RESOURCES IN AWKA STUDY CENTRE, NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
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Date
2025
Authors
Lucy Ndidiamaka Okonkwo
Babarotimi Opeyemi Oluwaseun
Eunice Vuoke Akpovire
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Publisher
Library and Information Management Forum
Abstract
Collaboration is a vital element of knowledge acquisition and academic success,
particularly in the digital age where Open Educational Resources (OER) play an
increasingly central role in learning and research. This study investigated the extent to
which final-year Library and Information Science (LIS) students at the Awka Study Centre
of the National Open University of Nigeria collaborate to enhance their awareness and
utilization of OER. It assessed students’ awareness of OER, collaborative practices in
accessing and applying OER, challenges encountered, and the impact of collaboration on
academic performance and research capabilities. A mixed-methods approach was adopted,
using both quantitative and qualitative techniques. The study employed a descriptive survey
design with a population of 348 final-year LIS students. Data were collected through
structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and interviews, and analysed using
descriptive statistics (frequency counts and percentages), correlation, and thematic
analysis. Findings revealed that students possessed a high level of awareness of OER and
made significant use of various resources through collaborative practices. Collaboration
was found to positively influence their academic engagement, research productivity, and
overall performance. However, several barriers impeded effective use of OER, including
inadequate information literacy skills, poor internet access, unreliable electricity, limited
institutional support, preference for individual study, and lack of encouragement from
lecturers. The study concludes that peer collaboration enhances awareness and utilization
of OER, but systemic barriers limit its full potential. It recommends strengthening
institutional support, improving ICT infrastructure, and promoting a collaborative
learning culture to maximize OER adoption in LIS education.
Description
Library and Information Management Forum