​​Community of Practice

Spri​ng 2026​​​ OER Co​mmunity of Practice Overview

By Participating in the OER Community of Practice, faculty/instructors will be able to: 

  • Apply knowledge of OER best practices to integrate an OER in their course during AY27 
  • Apply knowledge of open pedagogy and high-impact practices to enhance teaching and student engagement 
  • ​​Share their own expertise to help strengthen campus support for OER and champion a culture of open resources 

​During the Community of Practice, participants will engage in activities and discussion based on their personal experience.  

Explore and Apply OER Best Practices 

  • Identify, evaluate, and implement high-quality OERs that align with course learning objectives. 
  • Understand open licensing (e.g., Creative Commons) and its implications for adopting, adapting, and creating OER. 

Enhance Teaching and Student Engagement 

  • Develop strategies to integrate OER effectively into course design to improve accessibility and affordability. 
  • Explore ways to enhance student engagement and learning through open pedagogy and interactive OER resources. 

Contribute to Institutional OER Support 

  • Share experiences, challenges, and successes with OER adoption and implementation. 
  • Provide feedback to the library and CITL to inform the development of institutional resources and support for OER adoption. 

Build a Community of Practice 

  • Collaborate with colleagues across disciplines to share strategies, challenges, and successes in OER use. 
  • Identify opportunities for ongoing professional development and potential future OER initiatives at the institution. ​

​​Participants will be expected to commit to participating in the following: ​

  • Use an OER in a course during AY27 
  • Periodic zoom meetings during the spring semester 
  • Provide feedback to help shape OER support going forward 

Faculty who participate and complete the above activities will receive a $500 stipend at the conclusion of the Community of Practice (May 2026).  


​​Ready to Get Started?

Join Spring 2026 Community of Practice​

Join the CITL and Library Community of Practice on Open Educational Resources (OER) this spring! Meet via Zoom (about twice a month) to explore OER best practices, open pedagogy, and high-impact.

​Faculty who complete the program will receive a $500 stipend.​

Interested?

Contact ​Mindy King: 
mking@uwsp.edu or 715-346-2321 by November 28, 2025.​

Access more details and information here​​



Contact:

  • University Libraries: Mindy King

  • CITL: Erin Speetzen​

  • Schedule a one-on-one consultation

  • Invite us to a department meeting to explore options together​​

​Open Educational Resources Community of Practice Outline 

​​​Session

​Title
​Objectives
​Activities
​February​​

​​​Welcome and Foundations of OER 

Build community and shared understanding of OER.

  • ​​​​Define OER and understand its benefits and challenges 

  • Provide brief overview of how to find/evaluate 

  • Share experience; surface participants goals and experiences (faculty action plan?) ​

​Pre-session:  

  • Complete a discussion post: Why do you want to use OER? What are your goals for this CoP? ​

Post-session:  

  • select a potential OER textbook 

  • Complete an initial evaluation using a simple rubric; identify any gap content areas ​​​

​February

​​​​Copyright and Creative Commons Adapting and Creating  

Legal and practical considerations for using, modifying, and creating OER.

  • ​​​Identify and apply Creative Commons licenses 

  • License your own work appropriately 

  • Attribute sources correctly 

  • Distinguish between adopting, adapting, and creating 

  • Understand process and tools for adapting or creating OER ​

​​​Post-session:  

  • Identify the license of your selected OER and explain what you are allowed to do under that license 

  • Reflect on how you might adapt or supplement the material ​

​March

​​​​Open Pedagogy & Student Engagement

  • ​​​Understand open pedagogy principles 

  • Explore benefits of open pedagogy for students and faculty. 

  • Look at examples of open pedagogy in various disciplines. 

  • Reflect on how you might apply open pedagogy in your own teaching. ​

​​​​Post-session:  

  • Complete a discussion post: Which open pedagogy strategies interest you (if any), and how might you apply them?  

​March

​Designing for Accessibility and Inclusive Learning  

Ensure that OER are usable, accessible, and visible to all students.

  • ​​​Understand accessibility basics (including WCAG and UDL principles) 

  • Learn how to evaluate and improve OER for accessibility/comply with ADA Title II digital accessibility standards ​

​​​Pre-session:  

  • Find and review the accessibility statement for your selected OER 

 Post session: 

  • Evaluate your OER using the accessibility checklist  to identify any concerns that need to be addressed.  ​

​April

​​​Planning for AY 27 Implementation  

Finalize and troubleshoot your OER plan.

  • ​​​​​Refine your plan for integrating OER into your course 

  • Explore effective delivery formats: links, files, and print options 

  • Learn Canvas integration best practices 

  • Draft language to explain OER use to students 

  • Get peer and facilitator feedback ​

​​​​Post-session: 

  • Complete a planning worksheet: where and how will students access your OER? 

  • Finalize syllabus language and student welcome email 

  • Notify the bookstore about your planned OER use ​

​April

​​​​​​​​Strengthening Institutional Support ​

Reflection, feedback, and next steps.

  • ​​​​Share experiences and identify institutional needs 

  • Celebrate progress and discuss sustainability ​

Pre-session reflection post: What was most valuable thing you learned? What the institution do to provide support for OER work going forward?


​