Open Education Week is back for spring 2026

Open Education Week (OE Week) is back at The University of New Mexico, taking place from March 2 - 6 as a global celebration effort dedicated to advancing open education and promoting equitable access to knowledge.

This annual, week long event provides an opportunity for educators, students and advocates worldwide to engage in discussions, workshops and activities that highlight the latest achievements in open education. UNM will host a mix of in-person and virtual events, including free book fairs featuring books in Arabic, English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish and Swahili, as well as hands-on crafting and webinars on OER, advocacy and audience-centered design.

The New Mexico Open Educational Resources (NMOER) consortium, funded by the Department of Education, has an exciting lineup of insightful and engaging events. Faculty, students and community members are encouraged to join and explore the benefits of Open Educational Resources (OER) and innovative learning practices.

UNM OE Week Events

March 2 | 4 - 6 p.m. | Zimmerman 254
March 5 | 1 - 3 p.m. | Zimmerman 254

Zines & Paper Crafts Crafternoon
Take an afternoon study or work break to learn about OER and try out a new creative activity! Bring your own craft or try one we provide, such as Zines or other paper crafts. No registration needed!

Hosted by UNM OER and LRE-U Engagement Team

March 3 - 4 | 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Smith Plaza (Between Zimmerman and the SUB)

Open Education Free Book Fair
Join UNM OER and the Friends of the Public Library for a free book giveaway! The Friends will bring a wide selection of books for UNM students to take home. Stop by to pick up a free book to enjoy, there will be books in many languages to choose form: Arabic, English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish and Swahili. Learn how OER is transforming access to knowledge. And explore how open licensing enables the reuse and remixing of educational and research materials.

Hosted by UNM OER and Friends of the Public Library

March 4 | 2 - 3 p.m. | Zoom

Advocating for OER, One Step at a Time
Learn how higher education institutions across New Mexico are advancing open educational resources through advocating at their institutions and through NMOER. Panelists from Central New Mexico Community College, Eastern New Mexico University, Northern New Mexico College, Santa Fe Community College, and the University of New Mexico will discuss what OER advocacy looks like in different institutional settings, large and small. The discussion will cover short- and long-term planning, plus how to create smaller, focused activities that can yield tangible results. Attendees will leave with concrete ideas for sustaining OER awareness, working together with faculty, and increasing Open Educational Practices (OEP).

Panelists:

• Elisha Allen, director, Online Strategies and Academic Technologies, UNM
• Christine Goshorn, executive director, Innovation & Instructional Support, CNM
• Jennifer Jordan, principal investigator, NMOER; OER librarian and assistant professor, UNM
• Valerie Nye, library director, SFCC
• Martin Shupla, library director, NNMC
• Laura Wight, director of Golden Library, ENMU

March 5 | 10 - 11 a.m. | Zoom

Getting Started with OER
You've likely heard that open educational resources (OER) can save students money, but they can also increase student engagement and retention. To support New Mexico educators, the New Mexico Open Educational Resources (NMOER) Consortium is offering a session during Open Education Week to introduce faculty to some of the basic concepts of OER: the ethos, practices and tools necessary for finding high-quality course materials across disciplines. Everyone is invited to this virtual session to learn how OER can make courses more affordable, accessible and engaging for students.

Presented by Jennifer Jordan, principal investigator, NMOER; OER librarian and assistant professor, UNM

March 6 | 11 - noon | Zoom & Frank Waters Room Zimmerman 105

I wrote this...For You: Framing Audience(s) for Your Open Education Resources
Determining who will read an open education resource (OER) is not a straightforward question. Sure, there are your students, but what are their needs? Also, placing your OER out into circulation brings the opportunity for new audiences. Who are they? What are your obligations to these audiences as you write/revise OER? In this presentation, we will think with a little bit of rhetorical theory about the audience, but also talk practically about how to think about and respond to audiences. Even if you have not (yet) written an OER, this presentation might be useful for broader conversations about (digital) instructional materials and their potential for relational responding to learners.

Presented by Mary Rice, associate professor, Literacy and Language Arts (LLA)

These events showcase the impact of open education in breaking down barriers to learning, fostering collaboration, and creating more inclusive educational environments.

Join us in celebrating OE Week by attending these events and engaging in the global conversation about the future of education.

For more information about OE Week, visit the OE Worldwide site or register for UNM's events at goto.unm.edu/oerevents.