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The Open Education Network’s Open Pedagogy Learning Circle hosted its Show & Tell earlier this month, wrapping up the fall 2025 program that enables OEN members to explore and engage in open pedagogy at no additional cost. Facilitated by Jamie Witman, Open Educational Practices Specialist, the Learning Circle strives to build a community of practitioners who can:
The Open Education Network’s Open Pedagogy Learning Circle hosted its Show & Tell earlier this month, wrapping up the fall 2025 program that enables OEN members to explore and engage in open pedagogy at no additional cost. Facilitated by Jamie Witman, Open Educational Practices Specialist, the Learning Circle strives to build a community of practitioners who can:
- Build a foundational understanding of open pedagogy.
- Discover how open pedagogy can be incorporated in the classroom.
- Gain hands-on experience creating a renewable assignment or digital learning object.
Centering the Student Experience
Confidence and creativity were apparent at the November 4th Show & Tell, as 10 members shared renewable assignments and learning objects they had created over the previous seven weeks. Their efforts produced new and revised assignments, LibGuides, videos, blogs, podcasts, zines, workshops, and more, all designed to empower students as co-creators of knowledge.
“I’m always impressed by the projects that get submitted,” said Jamie. “I love seeing the mix of creativity and passion, and the joy folks have when they’ve been able to find ways to really center open pedagogy and the student experience.”
Designing Assignments that Foster Collaboration
For his project presentation, Seyed Abdollah Shahrokni, Open Publishing Platform Manager at Texas A&M University, shared several text games he created in the Learning Circle using Twine open-source software. Twine enables co-creation of interactive, non-linear stories. Seyed used the tool to walk folks through Creative Commons licensing options.
“This Learning Circle helped me move beyond understanding open pedagogy in theory to applying it with my own students and also authors,” said Seyed. “I now feel more confident designing assignments that foster collaboration, shared ownership, and meaningful impact on the broader community, while also supporting others in doing the same.”
A Warm Hug
Natasha Whitton is an Associate Professor of History at Baton Rouge Community College. Her Learning Circle presentation featured her work with Perusall, an online social learning platform, to transform a discussion board assignment. With Perusall’s capacity to facilitate interaction on documents, images, videos, webpages, and more, Natasha’s project means her BRCC students will soon be able to share thoughts on course materials more freely and in multiple formats.
“The Open Pedagogy Learning Circle is a warm hug for faculty, staff, and administrators who want to embrace open education inside and outside the classroom,” said Natasha. “If you are looking for a holistic introduction to this field in a well-organized and supportive environment, sign up now.”
Inside the Circle
The OEN offers the Learning Circle twice per year, in spring and fall, and typically accepts 12-15 members per cohort. There is no fee to participate. Faculty, librarians, instructional designers, administrators, and other instructional partners are all welcome to join.
Participants attend weekly one-hour meetings online, engaging with resources, tools, and one another as they collaboratively move through critical topics, including:
- Defining Open Pedagogy
- Traditional vs. Renewable Assignments
- Caring for Students and Centering Consent in the Classroom
- Accessibility, Scaffolding, and Universal Design for Learning in Open Ped Assignments
- Synergistic Relationship Between Open Ped and Social Justice
- Tools Showcase
- Show & Tell
A Refreshing Experience
"The Learning Circle was a refreshing experience,” said Christy Garrison-Harrison of Southern University and A&M College. The Assistant Professor of History and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies plans to draw on that experience, using Edublogs and the Directory of Open Access Books to help her students critically analyze works from their own lived experiences and perspectives.
“Each session contained literature, tools, dialogue, interactive examples, theory, and application,” she said. “After each session I was excited and encouraged about the prospect of creating renewable, interactive, and welcoming assessments, both for and with students."
Something New
The next Open Pedagogy Learning Circle begins in February 2026. Jamie is looking forward to another rewarding opportunity.
“Even though I am the facilitator, I am also constantly learning,” said Jamie, who has been leading these cohorts since 2023. “I’m always encouraged and inspired by each cohort and each participant. I thank them all for their participation and willingness to try something new!”
OEN members, want to try something new as a participant in the next Open Pedagogy Learning Circle? Sign up on our Interest List now to receive more information by email, and be on the lookout for the spring 2026 Call for Applications which we’ll share in January. Contact Jamie Witman with related questions.