Open Education Week Returns: UNM Hosts Global Learning Events

Open Education Week (OE Week) is set to return at the University of New Mexico (UNM) from March 2 to 6, 2026. This annual event aims to advance open education and promote equitable access to knowledge on a global scale. Educators, students, and advocates will have the opportunity to engage in various discussions, workshops, and activities that highlight recent achievements in open education.

The week will feature a combination of in-person and virtual events, showcasing the importance of Open Educational Resources (OER). Among the highlights is a series of free book fairs, offering literature in multiple languages, including Arabic, English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili. Participants can also enjoy hands-on crafting sessions, webinars on advocacy, and discussions focused on audience-centered design.

Events Schedule and Highlights

The New Mexico Open Educational Resources (NMOER) consortium, supported by the Department of Education, has organized a diverse lineup of engaging activities for the week. Faculty, students, and community members are encouraged to attend and explore the advantages of OER and innovative educational practices.

On March 2, from 16:00 to 18:00, a casual crafting event titled “Zines & Paper Crafts Crafternoon” will take place in Zimmerman 254. Participants can take a break from their studies to learn about OER while engaging in creative activities, with no prior registration required.

The following day, March 3, the Open Education Free Book Fair will be held from 11:00 to 13:00 in Smith Plaza, located between Zimmerman and the Student Union Building (SUB). This event, hosted by UNM OER and the Friends of the Public Library, will provide students with the opportunity to select free books from a wide array of genres and languages.

A significant panel discussion titled “Advocating for OER, One Step at a Time” will occur on March 4 from 14:00 to 15:00 via Zoom. This session will feature panelists from various New Mexico institutions, including Central New Mexico Community College and Eastern New Mexico University. They will discuss OER advocacy efforts and strategies for fostering collaboration within educational environments. Attendees will gain actionable insights for promoting OER awareness and enhancing Open Educational Practices (OEP).

Workshops and Presentations

On March 5, a virtual session titled “Getting Started with OER” will take place from 10:00 to 11:00. This workshop aims to introduce educators to the core concepts of OER, highlighting how these resources can improve course affordability and student engagement. It is presented by Jennifer Jordan, principal investigator of NMOER and OER librarian at UNM.

The final event on March 6, from 11:00 to 12:00, will feature a presentation called “I Wrote This…For You: Framing Audience(s) for Your Open Education Resources.” Led by Mary Rice, associate professor of Literacy and Language Arts, this session will explore the importance of understanding audience needs when creating OER. Participants will engage in discussions about the responsibilities of authors in addressing diverse learner audiences.

These events collectively showcase the transformative power of open education in dismantling barriers to learning and fostering inclusive educational environments. By participating in OE Week, attendees will join a global conversation about the future of education and the role of open resources in enhancing accessibility.

For further information about Open Education Week and to register for UNM’s events, visit goto.unm.edu/oerevents.