Posted on May 14, 2026May 14, 2026 by cdladminThe Importance of Data in Open Education In this episode of Open-Ed Mic, the hosts chat with Dr. Virginia Clinton-Lisell, associate professor of Education, Health, and Behavior at the University of North Dakota, about her research on open educational resources, digital learning and student outcomes. She explains how teaching large introductory psychology courses led her to study OER after student concerns about textbook costs and publisher pressure. Dr. Clinton-Lisell shares findings showing comparable learning outcomes between open and commercial textbooks, along with lower withdrawal rates for students using OER. The conversation highlights accessibility issues in inclusive access platforms and encourages faculty to use evidence-based approaches when selecting instructional materials. https://media.blubrry.com/3954992/https://ucfcdl-wp.s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts/openEd-mic/openedmic-010.mp3Podcast (opened-mic): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:14 — 39.0MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Podcast Index | Deezer | Youtube Music | RSS Download Transcript: TXT About our Guest Dr. Virginia Clinton-Lisell began her career in education as an ESL teacher in New York City. She then obtained her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Science at the University of Minnesota where she was trained in educational research. She has published more than 60 articles in education research and teaches courses in education research, program evaluation, and psychological foundations of education. Her current research focuses on the psychology of reading comprehension and open education. She is a primary researcher for the Open Education Group, which sponsors a fellowship for early career researchers. Follow Dr. Virginia Clinton-Lisell on LinkedIn Dr. Virginia Clinton-Lisell Associate Professor of Education, Health, and Behavior University of North Dakota About Open-Ed Mic Explore our Open-Ed Mic podcast for practical guidance and inspiring stories about open education. Discover how to incorporate OER materials into your course while connecting with a community dedicated to transforming teaching and learning through openness. Meet Your Hosts Your hosts— Kevin Corcoran , Zach Claybaugh , Brittany Dudek , and Dr. Michael A. Mills —bring decades of combined expertise as prominent thought leaders in open educational resources (OER) within higher education. With extensive backgrounds spanning digital learning, library science, student success initiatives, and strategic leadership at state and national levels, they have collectively shaped policies, driven impactful initiatives, and advocated passionately for increased access to education. Their collaborative approach highlights their deep commitment to advancing open education practices, ensuring quality, affordability, and accessibility for learners everywhere.
