The Iowa Open Education Action Team is excited to announce the second annual call for participation for our OER Communities of Practice! The purpose of these communities of practice (CoPs) is to support instructors across the state who want to connect with peers over a shared interest in open educational resources (OER).
Participants in this program will have the chance to foster connections, build expertise, and identify, adapt, or create OER to support their work. This year, instructional designers are also encouraged to apply to build connections with the instructors in the CoPs.
This free program will have limited availability, with only the 3-4 teams* created based on the disciplines with the highest level of expressed interest. Even if you applied last year and were unable to participate, we encourage you to reapply.
$100 will be provided at the end of the academic year to support individuals who participate.
Apply now to participate in the 2023/2024 OER Communities of Practice.
Timeline
- September 15: Applications are due
- September 29: Applicants will be notified about the status of their application
- October 13: Kickoff event with guest speaker
*Depending on the applications we receive, the new CoPs could be teams based on discipline (English, Economics), broad disciplinary groups (STEM), areas of interest (OER creation, open pedagogy), or level of familiarity with OER (beginner, expert).
About the Communities of Practice
This program will take place over the 2023/2024 academic year. In fall, teams will have additional support and facilitation provided by a local Open Education leader who will help drive discussions and answer questions. As teams become established, interested participants will have the opportunity to provide a leadership role within their team.
Expectations for Participants
Participants will be required to attend a virtual kickoff event with a guest speaker in October and to participate in monthly, one-hour calls with their community of practice from October 2023 through May 2024. Groups may choose to continue meeting past this point if they wish.
In May, participants will be asked to complete a short essay reflecting on their experience in the CoP program. The $100 award will be distributed to participants after they submit this essay.
Application Sections
- A short questionnaire that provides information about you, your discipline, and your institution.
- A brief essay (200-500 words) describing the outcomes you hope to achieve through participation in a disciplinary community of practice. Consider things like pedagogy, discipline, or local needs and how these reflect your interest. This will help us develop the final groups for the CoPs.
Questions?
Contact the project lead, Abbey K. Elder, at aelder@iastate.edu