The study conducted by Hilton (2016) focused on open educational resources (OER) by analyzing the findings of 16 studies that investigated (a) the influence of OER on academic learning outcomes at the tertiary context, and (b) students' and instructors' perceptions of OER in their teaching and learning contexts. Hilton's analysis of the findings of these studies indicated two major findings: (1) when students use OER, they obtain the same learning outcomes as with traditional textbooks while saving money; and (2) both students and teachers find OER comparable to traditional learning resources in terms of quality. Several advantages of OER were also revealed. These included low or no cost of OER, perceived ease of reading and access, their ability to provide the same learning outcomes as traditional materials, and students' and instructors' positive perceptions. By indicating the role of OER in obtaining the same or similar learning, the study has also suggested that OER be considered useful sources for classes and also a valid replacement for commercial textbooks. However, we also need to consider the context where OER will be used and how OER are designed and used in this context since these two determine whether OER will work and suffice. This article considers the contextual factors and design of OER, and the limitations of Hilton's work in addition to several ideas and suggestions for further research regarding OER in online and face-to-face instruction.

Social media platforms have conquered almost all fields of human life; their impact as opinion creating tools is undisputable. They not only offer a place for people to exchange experiences, but are also a virtual space where people fight with words in defence of their beliefs. This second function has made social media a rich source for linguistic analysis, providing material for the most current social, political, and economic issues. The main aim of this paper is to contribute to reducing the identified gap in the literature on hate speech and consequential cyberbullying from the linguistic perspective and provide conclusions on elements of hate speech through the analysis of statements relating to the cut-out of the Białowieża National Forest. The examples were excerpted from the Polish social media websites of activists representing two opponent groups. This paper consists of three parts. The first part provides an overview of the literature related to hate speech, cyberbullying, their definitions, roles, and the possibilities of analysis. In this part, the background of the discussed polemic is also highlighted (the geographic location of the Białowieża National Forest, arguments used by both sides of the conflict etc.). The second part of the paper presents and discusses the results of the conducted research. After having examined some of the social media platforms used by the groups representing different attitudes to the described conflict (including Facebook, Twitter etc.), we have identified linguistic patterns within aggressive and vulgar statements expressed both directly and indirectly. Therefore, our analysis concentrates on categorisation of characteristic elements of hate statements. In the third part of the paper, we present conclusions referring to the results of the analysis.

March 2020 has become a moment of change in communication mode and quality. Previously, the media paid attention to the current affairs, however, never earlier the journalistic discourse has been so influentially affected by the ongoing phenomenon as in the case of COVID-19. Almost overnight the new terminological phenomena with specific legal or medical reference were introduced into everyday language mainly via mass media and become an important part of a pandemic related narration. The strong influence on the shape of the mentioned linguistic changes has mainly the adoption of new legal regulations due to the unexpected outbreak of the pandemic. The aim of the following paper is to investigate how COVID-19 pandemic affected the specialisation of the journalistic discourse and how different domains (law, medicine) are being influenced by new terminology and in other way round, how for example law and medicine influence new “COVID language”. In order to take the interdisciplinary nature of the issue into account, the degree of hybridity of the selected texts will be examined by means of selected material analysis. The methodology applied in the paper uses an empirical approach and comparative analysis. The material used for the analysis comes from the selected Polish quality and boulevard press. The paper concerns the linguistic influence of the “invisible enemy” on the language presented in press. The main findings reveal the intense use of neologisms, borrowings, and it shows that the discourse was changed linguistically thanks to Student’s t-test.

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