Students benefit from a nonlinear learning path, also known as a nonsequential learning path, because it allows them to control the pace and sequence of their learning. However, the dynamics of a nonlinear learning path, particularly within an open learning environment like MOOCs, remain underexplored. The current study aims to map out various…

Purpose: This paper engages Olaf Zawacki-Richter and Insung Jung in a frank and penetrating conversation that seeks to ground, frame, and problematise research in the field conceptualised as "open, distance and digital education" (ODDE). Taking as starting point the recent publication of the landmark "Handbook of Open, Distance, and…

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant weaknesses in education systems globally, with many African countries, including Nigeria, struggling to respond swiftly to its impact. In Nigeria, the challenge was compounded by ongoing insurgency and insecurity, leading to extended school closures. To mitigate these disruptions, educational institutions…

The field of open education and research on the topic has notably expanded since the introduction of the term 20 years ago. Given these developments, a framework to structure research inquiry is necessary to ground and organize findings in open education. We propose the SCOPE framework for open education research: social justice, cost, outcomes,…

In higher education, international research collaboration functions as a visible mechanism of cooperation and competition, serving as a proxy for quality and academic excellence. Open universities use revolutionary education models but are not often associated with quality or academic excellence. To investigate the impact of international research…

In this paper, we set out a collaborative autoethnographic account of our reflective journey to deeper understandings of open, distance and e-learning (ODeL) through enrolling, participating and completing the first module in a course on technology-enhanced learning (TEL). As authors, we both enrolled for the course for different reasons. The…

Within the context of Australian higher education, Open Educational Practice (OEP) requires a collective response from researchers and practitioners to instantiate novel, sustainable, scalable, and evidence-informed educational practices. This article outlines practice-led research's (PLR) role in educational research in open education and its…

The purpose of this study is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of research on open and distance learning, focusing on articles affiliated with institutions or authors in Türkiye. Articles were retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database, those indexed in the SSCI, SCIE, and ESCI categories, published between 2020 and 2024. A total of 1,229…

This study identified trends and patterns of theory use in open and distance learning research by examining the research articles published in open and distance journals between 2009 and 2018. A content analysis of 1,393 articles in open and distance learning journals was conducted. Theory use is characterised as a situation in which an author…

Openness in education is not a consistent term or value since "open" is used to describe various things and often means different things to different individuals. In a research context, it is important to identify the many interpretation(s) and perspectives of openness being investigated, especially since the underlying ideas behind…

Open pedagogy has been touted by advocates as a promising expansion of open educational resources because it involves shifting from making resources accessible to impacting the practice of teaching. The allure of the term coupled with its promise to bring greater innovation to pedagogy has led to its widespread use at conferences and publications.…

In celebrating the 20th anniversary of the "International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education (IJETHE)," previously known as the "Revista de Universidad y Sociedad del Conocimiento (RUSC)," it is timely to reflect upon the shape and depth of educational technology research as it has appeared within the…

The College Completion Network was established to expand the field's understanding of promising strategies that could support more students in attaining degrees at open- and broad-access institutions. Funded by a 6-year grant (2017-2022) from the Institute of Education Sciences, the network brought together research teams focused on postsecondary…

Purpose: We describe a series of more than a dozen studies on self-directed online learning spanning over a decade. Design/Approach/Methods: We incorporated surveys, interviews, focus groups, and content analyses into these research studies, which initially targeted the goals, motivations, and challenges of learners using open educational…

This book explores foundational theories that have been applied in open and distance education (ODE) research and refined to reflect advances in research and practice. In addition, it develops new theories emerging from recent developments in ODE. The book provides a unique and up-to-date source of information for ODE scholars and graduate…