The Next Generation of the OEN Community Gathering: OEN Engage!

This summer the Open Education Network (OEN) is pleased to introduce OEN Engage! The inaugural, four-day virtual event invites the OEN community to celebrate our collective knowledge, individual strengths, and commitment to serving the common good through open education. All members are welcome, and there’s no cost to participate.

This event features energizing content suited to the range of the community’s open education experience. From beginners to pros, there are learning opportunities designed to motivate and empower, and resources designed to support next steps in institutional programming.

Less Conference…More Connection is the theme of the event, emphasizing the importance of the human connections that inspire and sustain us personally and professionally. Our community’s mutual support and camaraderie are key ingredients of the “special sauce” that makes the OEN meaningful for many. With this in mind, OEN Engage! will focus on facilitating connections that help members achieve their open education goals.

“The generosity of time, willingness to share, and collaborative spirit each member brings to our community is truly special,” observed Barb Thees, OEN Community Director of Engagement. “There is a feeling that individual successes can be helpful for the benefit of everyone. With OEN Engage! we hope to create a space that conveys this aspect of who we are—where members have the opportunity to connect, feel that they’re a part of something bigger, and leave knowing they have a community of people behind them they can reach out to, share with and learn from.”

In the 2023 Community Scan, members expressed interest in more opportunities to connect, maximize their time and get the most from their OEN membership. In direct response, we designed OEN Engage! sessions with lots of opportunities to renew established connections and make new ones, too. 

The lineup includes: 

We’re also excited to offer two workshops at OEN Engage! We’ll be running Train-the-Trainer sessions to introduce our revised OER Adoption Workshop (formerly called the OEN Faculty Workshop) and our new Open Pedagogy Workshop. We will share tools, resources, and support to prepare community members to lead these workshops at their institutions.

The virtual OEN Engage! 2023 happens July 10-13. Members, learn more and register at OEN Engage!. Registration is open through June 30.

Stay up-to-date @OpenEd_Network on Twitter. Look for #OENEngage23 and/or #MoreConnection. If you have questions or would like more information, contact Barb Thees.