Our annual get-together, OEN Engage!, offers an opportunity to experience the remarkable support and connection our community shares. This year, let’s steady one another through uncertain times and celebrate our wins, big and small. Members, join us for this free, virtual event to boost your open ed strategies and skills, and get updated on OEN resources while you connect with colleagues and friends.
Choose Your Own Adventure
- Easily find sessions that are right for you. In the 2025 Session Lineup below, you’ll see that each day of our week-long event focuses on a different open education theme, including open pedagogy, open publishing, and OER adoption, in addition to community engagement.
- Are you a “Beginner,” or “Experienced” open education practitioner? How familiar are you with OEN programs and resources? To identify sessions that align with your knowledge and skills, look for the label provided in the session details dropdown. And keep in mind, you’re welcome to attend all OEN Engage! sessions. The label is merely a recommendation to help you narrow down your options if you choose.
- Most importantly, don’t forget the “secret sauce.” OEN Engage! offers an abundance of creative ways to catch up with friends, share best practices, and experience the unmistakable camaraderie in every warm smile. Share a wave hello, and depart every conversation knowing you’re not alone.
Registration Closed
OEN Engage! 2025 registration is closed. Three pre-recorded session videos are available now on the OEN Engage! YouTube playlist. Following the event, recordings and transcripts of most sessions will be posted to this playlist and in the Community Hub throughout the summer and fall.
OEN Engage! 2025 Session Lineup
SESSIONS BY DATE |
CENTRAL TIME |
PRESENTER(S) & DESCRIPTION |
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10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. |
Dave Ernst, OEN
All Members Learn more about our community’s strategic direction over the coming year, as well as our latest initiatives from Executive Director, Dave Ernst. We will also share an overview of the session lineup, so that you have an idea of how best to plug in over the course of the week based on your interests and goals. |
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12:00 p.m. - 12:50 p.m. |
Kate McNally-Carter, University of Houston; Barb Thees, OEN
All Members Need a collaborator to help with a research project, conference presentation or idea? Want to offer your expertise or present at another institution? This session is designed to help you identify people with common interests. Facilitators will introduce a shared spreadsheet, designed to be a living, community document, so that you can describe your needs and/or identify opportunities to collaborate with others. After a brainstorming activity, you will be invited to join a breakout room to discuss your ideas with potential collaborators by topic. Join us and let the matchmaking begin! 12:00-12:05 Welcome 12:05-12:10 Introduce Community Scholarship Matchmaking document & purpose 12:10-12:30 Padlet Brainstorm: Identify topics for collaboration & areas of interest 12:30-12:50 Breakout Rooms: Join a room that reflects your topic of interest for continued conversation & connection building. |
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10:00 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. |
Cheryl Casey, University of Arizona; Meggie Mapes, University of Kansas
Beginner During this two-hour workshop, you will learn how to demonstrate to faculty that open textbooks remove barriers to learning and increase educational equity as well as address common questions about open textbooks. You will also learn how to encourage faculty to engage with OER by inviting faculty to review a book in the Open Textbook Library. 10:00-10:05 Welcome & Introduction 10:05-10:15 Uncover barriers to open textbook adoption 10:15-10:45 Discuss strategies for raising awareness, educating, and engaging 10:45-11:00 Practice successful strategies for responding to skeptics and criticism of open education 11:00-11:05 Break 11:05-11:35 Discuss ways to incentivize faculty engagement with open textbooks 11:35-11:55 Question & Answer |
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12:30 p.m. - 1:25 p.m. |
Lindsey Gwozdz, Community College of Rhode Island; Christina Norton, Bradley University; Timothy Sandusky, Bowling Green State University; Zara Wilkinson, Rutgers University
Beginner Experienced Attend this session to hear from a panel of fellow members with ample experience successfully leading Introduction to OER Adoption workshops for faculty. Take away tips, best practices, and fresh ideas to apply to your own localized workshop in terms of planning, communication, implementation, and faculty follow-up. 12:30-12:35 Welcome & Introduction 12:35-1:05 Panel Shares Tips & Best Practices for Hosting OER Adoption Workshops 1:05-1:25 Question & Answer |
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2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
Cheryl Casey, University of Arizona; Mandi Goodsett, Cleveland State University; Heather MacBean, University of Kansas
Beginner Experienced Learn how fellow community members are encouraging faculty participation in open education initiatives, using compelling alternatives to financial incentives. After hearing three featured examples, select a breakout room to engage in further discussion with fellow community members who are also grappling with how to grow faculty participation with limited to no funding. 2:00-2:05 Welcome & Introduction 2:05-2:25 Community Member Panel: Featuring strategies for making the case for OER and 1:1 support ideas, The Ohio State University’s Gratitude Campaign, The University of Kansas’ Textbook Heroes Program 2:25-2:40 Breakout Rooms: Join a small group discussion with one of the panelists 2:40-2:55 Community Debrief 2:55-3:00 Closing Remarks |
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3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. |
OEN Staff & Community Member Facilitators
Beginner Experienced We hope that the OER Adoption sessions spark questions, ideas, and inspiration for your open education work! During this debrief session and others this week, bring your questions and ideas related to OER adoption efforts to this session, where you can select a breakout room related to a specific topic of interest. Breakout rooms are an informal, lightly-facilitated space to discuss the day’s sessions with fellow members and session presenters. 3:15-3:20 Welcome & introduction 3:20-3:45 Breakout Rooms: Join a breakout to continue the conversation with fellow members on a topic covered during the day’s sessions. Breakout options:
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10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. |
Amanda Grey, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Experienced During this 75 minute workshop, you’ll learn how to introduce faculty to writing and publishing open textbooks. We’ll set the scene by describing obstacles students face and introduce how open textbooks may address them. Then we’ll explore the rewards faculty may enjoy as a result of writing their own open textbook, while acknowledging the challenges too. Finally we’ll touch on other ways open textbooks can improve student success, and end with next steps for faculty who may want to participate in a local OER publishing program. 10:30-10:50 Describe obstacles that students face and how open textbooks may address them 10:50-11:15 Discuss the rewards faculty may enjoy when writing their own open textbook 11:15-11:20 Explore other ways open textbooks can improve student success 11:20-11:30 Discuss what faculty need to know before writing an open textbook 11:30-11:45 Questions & Conversation |
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12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. |
Amanda Larson, The Ohio State University; Karen Lauritsen, OEN; Pub101 Committee Members
Experienced This summer, the Pub101 Committee will adapt the Pub101 Curriculum for an author audience. Join us to review an outline of the proposed curriculum. We will invite you to share what you want authors to know before beginning an open textbook project. We will also discuss options for how to bring Pub101 synchronous sessions to your author collaborators. 12:00-12:05 What is Pub101 and why do we want to adapt it for an author audience? 12:05-12:20 Our curriculum outline so far 12:20-12:30 Gathering community input and feedback about our outline 12:30-12:40 How you imagine using Pub101 with authors 12:40-12:45 Question & Answer |
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1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. |
Theresa Flett, St. Charles Community College; Karen Lauritsen, OEN; Jamie Witman, OEN
Experienced Join us to explore the possibilities with Manifold, a publishing and curation tool for OER and open pedagogy projects. Learn more about the OEN Manifold community, our respective roles and responsibilities, and how you can get started. We will also briefly profile an adaptation project, Nursing Management and Professional Concepts (Missouri Edition). 1:30-1:35 What is Manifold and why does the OEN offer it? 1:35-1:50 Who is the Manifold Community and what do they do? 1:50-2:00 Manifold Community Guidelines 2:00-2:10 Getting Started with Manifold 2:10-2:15 Frequently Asked Questions |
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3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
OEN Staff & Community Member Facilitators
Beginner Experienced Bring your questions and ideas related to open textbook publishing to this session, where you can select a breakout room related to a publishing topic of interest. Breakout rooms are an informal, lightly-facilitated space to discuss the day’s sessions with fellow members and session presenters. 3:00-3:05 Welcome & Introduction 3:05-3:30 Breakout Rooms: Join a breakout to continue the conversation with fellow members on a topic covered during the day’s sessions. Breakout options:
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10:00 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. |
Meggie Mapes, University of Kansas; David Tully, North Carolina State University
Beginner Experienced 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 will share examples of open pedagogy in practice, and suggest a series of follow-up action steps for faculty hoping to practice open pedagogy, including how to lead Faculty Learning Circles on your campus. 10:00-10:05 Welcome & Introduction 10:05-10:10 Establishing a Foundation for Open Education 10:10-10:50 The Introduction to Open Pedagogy Workshop for Faculty 10:50-11:00 Break 11:00-11:30 Facilitating & Experiencing an Open Pedagogy Learning Circle 11:30-11:45 Sharing Examples, the Curriculum, Getting Started & Lessons Learned 11:45-11:55 Question & Answer |
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12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. |
Amanda Hurford, PALNI; David Tully, North Carolina State University; Jamie Witman, OEN
Experienced This session provides insights on how to facilitate open pedagogy learning circles for faculty on your campus. You’ll hear the consortial perspective on how they have adapted the curriculum for facilitating a Learning Circle on Open Pedagogy and the institutional perspective on how they have used learning circles in their open pedagogy advocacy, including both their successes as well as the challenges they encountered. 12:30-12:35 Welcome & Introduction 12:35-12:40 Overview of where to find Learning Circle Curriculum & Resources 12:40-1:00 Community members share their experience with Learning Circles related to open pedagogy in an institutional and a consortial setting 1:00-1:10 Discussion & Questions 1:10-1:15 Wrap-up & Closing Remarks |
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2:00 p.m. - 2:55 p.m. |
Elizabeth Cantu, Estrella Mountain Community College; Ian Matthews, Grand Rapids Community College; Karna Younger, Loyola Marymount University
Beginner Experienced In this session, you will hear from a faculty member, an instructional designer, and a librarian who will share their diverse perspectives and strategies for engaging faculty in open pedagogy. 2:00-2:05 Welcome & Introduction 2:05-2:25 Community Member Panel: Featuring three examples of how members are engaging faculty within their unique institutional contexts 2:25-2:40 Breakout Rooms: Join a small group discussion based on your institution type 2:40-2:50 Community Debrief 2:50-2:55 Closing Remarks |
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3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. |
OEN Staff & Community Member Facilitators
Beginner Experienced Bring your questions and ideas related to open pedagogy to this session, where you can select a breakout room related to an open pedagogy topic of interest. Breakout rooms are an informal, lightly-facilitated space to discuss the day’s sessions with fellow members and session presenters. 3:15-3:20 Welcome & introduction 3:20-3:25 Five minute brainstorm of topics to create breakout rooms
3:25-3:45 Breakout Rooms: Join a breakout to continue the conversation with fellow members on a topic suggested by community members. |
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10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. |
Dave Ernst, OEN; Community Member Facilitators
All Members In times of great change, community is more important than ever. Come to this session to talk about the challenges you’re experiencing due to the latest shifts in higher education, brainstorm ways we can build resilience together, and create space for supporting each other in this important work. |
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1:00 p.m. - 1:55 p.m. |
Abbey Childs, Virginia Commonwealth University
All Members The best part about our community is the people in it! You’ve heard of the yearlong Colleague Connector program; come get a glimpse of what it’s like to connect informally with your fellow community members during this expedited version. Over the course of this lively session, you’ll experience 3 short breakout rooms with 3-4 people each, connecting over conversation prompts related to your work, the OEN Engage! experience, and your open education plans for the year ahead. We hope that this session helps you feel more connected to your amazing OEN colleagues and close the week on a high note! 1:00-1:05 Welcome & Introduction 1:05-1:20 Breakout Room 1 Small Group Discussion: The Why: Remembering what inspires your passion to do open education work. 1:20-1:35 Breakout Room 2 Discussion: The How: Sharing the nuts and bolts of open education work within your context. 1:35-1:50 Breakout Room 3 Discussion: OEN Engage!: Reflecting on your experience. 1:50-1:55 Regroup & Wrap-Up |
Beginner Opportunities for members who are new to OEN programs and/or open education.
Experienced Next steps for members who are familiar with OEN programs and/or open education.
All Members Community-building events relevant to everyone.
Session will be either partially or fully video recorded.
Comments from Last Year's Event
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 enrich your understanding of open education.
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.
People, Social, Game illustration by Gerd Altmann licensed by Pixabay. Font Awesome Free packaged font video icon is SIL OFL licensed.