On the Bright Side
We look forward to soaking up some open sky positivity and possibility together at OEN Engage! 2026. Our July 21-22 lineup offers two full days of informative, energizing sessions, including the opportunity to join OEN Executive Director Robin DeRosa for a discussion around the future of open and how the OEN might evolve to best support learners.
You're also invited to take a sneak peek at a new OEN Certificate, participate in an AI-related design sprint, let your creativity shine in open zines, lend a hand updating accessibility info for the Open Textbook Library, kick-start your own Data Dashboard, and much more!
Last thing: don't miss the virtual walk we're taking together, momentarily stepping away from our to-do lists and challenges to catch a glimpse of the beauty in our community's diverse world. Let's go!
Check the Session Lineup below for detailed descriptions and register now. We're looking forward to seeing you!
You're also invited to take a sneak peek at a new OEN Certificate, participate in an AI-related design sprint, let your creativity shine in open zines, lend a hand updating accessibility info for the Open Textbook Library, kick-start your own Data Dashboard, and much more!
Last thing: don't miss the virtual walk we're taking together, momentarily stepping away from our to-do lists and challenges to catch a glimpse of the beauty in our community's diverse world. Let's go!
Check the Session Lineup below for detailed descriptions and register now. We're looking forward to seeing you!
2026 Registration is Open
Register here for OEN Engage! happening July 21-22, 2026.
All OEN members, as well as institutions that are a part of OEN member consortia and regional systems, are welcome to attend at no cost. Registration closes July 15.
Yes! I'm registering now.
OEN Engage! 2026 Session Lineup
SESSIONS BY DATE |
TIME ZONE IN YOUR LOCATION |
PRESENTER(S) & DESCRIPTION |
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Tuesday, July 21 |
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Robin DeRosa (OEN)
In this presentation, Robin will highlight some of the challenges and opportunities facing the OEN, the open education field in general, and higher education as a whole. She will take questions and facilitate conversation around the future of open and how the OEN might evolve to best support learners. Session will be partially or fully video recorded. |
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Tanya Grosz (OEN), Karen Lauritsen (OEN), and Jamie Witman (OEN)
Join us to hear about our new certificate program in development that will offer learning opportunities in multiple pathways. Session will be partially or fully video recorded. |
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Barb Thees (OEN)
Looking to gain clarity on the foundational programs and resources available to you as a member? Learn about opportunities to connect directly with your peers and gain an overview of the tools in your OEN toolbox. Whether you’re brand new to our community or curious about how best to leverage your membership, we hope you leave this session feeling oriented and equipped with resources to support your open education work. Session will be partially or fully video recorded. |
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Jamie Witman (OEN)
Flex your creative muscle: bring your art supplies, an idea, and make a zine! Learn how to make a paper and/or digital zine and think through the ways zines could be useful in your work. We’ll spend the session co-working making our own zines. |
Wednesday, July 22 |
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Jamie Witman (OEN)
Learn about the OEN Data Dashboard! Explore the layout, learn how to add faculty, events, and how to send invites to review a textbook in the Open Textbook Library and update OER adoption & enrollment information. Session will be partially or fully video recorded. |
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Karen Lauritsen (OEN) and Jamie Witman (OEN)
Open Textbook Library (OTL) records include new accessibility fields. Now we need your help! In this session we will review the MARC accessibility fields and invite you to provide information for your publications, which will be visible on the book record page. Session will be partially or fully video recorded. |
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Robin DeRosa (OEN)
In this session, Robin will facilitate a design sprint. As a group, we will craft a blog post focused on this prompt: What are the basic framing questions that open educators should ask as they explore/engage AI tools for learning/teaching/research? Come help the OEN share its own flavor of practical guiding advice for practitioners confronting AI from an “open” perspective. (Work will continue past this session, but folks can participate for as much or as little as you wish, and participants can choose to be named authors or not on the final post.) No AI expertise necessary to join! |
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Karen Lauritsen (OEN), Amanda Larson (The Ohio State University), and Pub101 Committee members
Join the Pub101 Committee to learn about the inaugural Pub101 for Authors series. We’ll review our sessions and feedback, suggest how you can leverage the series in your publishing program, and share ideas for the future. Session will be partially or fully video recorded. |
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Robin DeRosa (OEN), Barb Thees (OEN), Martine Bernadel (OEN), and Jamie Witman (OEN)
Join us on a walk! We will rotate glimpses of each other’s worlds, so show us something lovely: a view of your river or garden; a pretty watercolor in your local coffee shop; a shining slug in a rainy puddle; your tidy desk set-up or the brick path outside your office building. For those who prefer not to share or who are too busy for a break, just come and lurk while you work! A window into the diverse world of the OEN. |
Shine On
Members, mark your calendars for these additional opportunities to continue the community momentum beyond our time together at OEN Engage! Stay tuned for timely reminders and registration information on the Community Hub events calendar and in our Google Group community of practice listserv.
Icon indicates session will be partially or fully video recorded. Time zones are based on your location.
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In It Together: Colleague Connector Program Info Session |
Open education work can feel exciting, yet overwhelming and isolating all at once. If you’ve ever wished you could talk through your to-do list with someone who just gets it or wished for a thought partner who could help breathe fresh air into your work, the Colleague Connector Program might be a good fit for you. Now in its 5th year, the program matches open ed practitioners from the OEN community in small groups of 2-3 for mutual learning, problem solving, and even commiserating. Listen to a panel of past participants as they share their experience and learn how you can apply to be a part of next year’s program!
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Train-the-Trainer: Introduction to OER Adoption |
This workshop equips faculty partners with the expertise and assurance to lead the Intro to OER Adoption session. Attendees will practice navigating complex inquiries during this three-hour event presented by Cheryl Casey (University of Arizona) and Meggie Mapes (University of Kansas). -
Open Hours with Robin |
ongoing through
On the first Monday of the month, this drop-in hour is for any OEN member who has thoughts, ideas, concerns, or inspiration to share with our executive director. Stop by for a few minutes or for the whole hour. In observance of Labor Day, there will be no open hour on Monday, Sept. 7. -
Train-the-Trainer: Introduction to OER Publishing |
Presented by Amanda Grey (Kwantlen Polytechnic University), this 90-minute workshop equips faculty partners to present the Introduction to OER Publishing Workshop in a clear and compelling way, and the experience may be leveraged as an onboarding experience for local open publishing programs. -
Train-the-Trainer: Introduction to Open Pedagogy |
During this two-hour workshop, you will learn how to introduce faculty to the concept of open pedagogy and demonstrate why its use makes learning more inclusive. Presenters Amanda Larson (The Ohio State University) and David Tully (North Carolina State University) will share examples of open pedagogy in practice, and a series of follow-up action steps for faculty hoping to practice open pedagogy, including how to lead Faculty Learning Circles on your campus. -
The Sun Never Sets on the OEN: Global Collaborations |
Collaboration has always been at the heart of the OEN, and this session will showcase the true spirit of global collaboration! Hear about two projects focusing on open publishing that brought together OEN members from Australia, the UK and USA. First, we’lll discuss the development of an open publishing Maturity Model and operational model that aims to help libraries identify the current state of maturity across a number of criteria, and then strategically focus resources to mature processes institutionally. Next, we’ll talk about plans to adapt the Pub101 curriculum for a global audience, demonstrating how inter-institutional collaboration can be harnessed to scale curriculum design and development. This session will be of interest to anyone connected to open publishing activities, from operationalizing processes and resourcing, to those making strategic decisions to transform activities from project-based, to programmatic institutional endeavors. -
Intro to the OEN Manifold Community |
Join us to learn more about our Manifold community. Karen Lauritsen (OEN) and Jamie Witman (OEN) will provide an overview of our respective roles and responsibilities, and a guided tour of what Manifold can do. For complete documentation and guidelines, including how to request access, go to: http://z.umn.edu/oen-manifold. -
Open Textbook Library Accessibility Collab |
Open Textbook Library records include new accessibility fields. Now we need your help! In this session, Karen Lauritsen (OEN and Jamie Witman (OEN) will review the MARC accessibility fields and invite you to provide information for your publications, which will be visible on the book record page.
Comments from Previous Years
Engaging Our Community
OEN Engage! inspires all of us to embrace the OEN community's Guiding Principles which include the statement, "Our collective knowledge exists in abundance. We are committed to using this abundance for the benefit of all." As an OEN member, whether newcomer or seasoned pro, you’ll find ample opportunities at OEN Engage! to hone your skills and inspire your open education work.
Our OEN Engage! Community Norms summarize our goals, commitment to attendees, and expected behaviors to create a safe, welcoming virtual event space for our community. Questions? Reach out to Barb at thee0017@umn.edu for more information.
Land Acknowledgment
We acknowledge that the University of Minnesota Twin Cities is built within the traditional homelands of the Dakota people. It is important to acknowledge the peoples on whose land we live, learn, and work as we seek to improve and strengthen our relations with our Tribal Nations. As a global community, we recognize, honor and respect the many sovereign nations on whose land our member institutions are situated.
We also acknowledge the complex and painful history between Tribal Nations within our region and the University of Minnesota, as documented in the Towards Recognition and University-Tribal Healing (TRUTH) Project. We recognize that words are not enough, and that it is our duty as a university community to provide support, resources, and programs that increase access to all aspects of higher education for our American Indian students, staff, faculty, and community members.