It's about time for OpenEd24!

We're super excited to head to OpenEd24, OcT 8-10 • Providence, RI & Online. This year's theme is 'It’s About Time' - reflecting that in-person attendance at this wonderful event for the first time since 2019. It's definitely going to be a special occasion and the program is packed with interesting sessions.

We're excited to contribute a session all about reclaiming our socials, and this is certainly a timely topic. Our session, headed up by Taylor Jadin and Pilot Irwin, will cover:

1. using federated social networks for professional development, dissemination and networking; 
2. evaluating how engaging with different social networks aligns with their values and competencies;
3. exploring belonging and engagement via a visitors/residents model;
4. apply lessons learnt and practical know how to your own personal, professional or institutional social media use.

Why now?

Social media platforms are an important channel for advocacy and knowledge sharing in Open Education. In the last few years however we have witnessed these social spaces becoming increasingly polarized, privatized and exploitative. Weller reflects that whilst Inger has commented “Please stop encouraging academics to use social media as a way to create research impact and engagement”. [Social media is] toxic, a mess and that takes all the fun out of it. But it would also seem odd not to use digital networks as a means to disseminate, engage and build community if those are aspects of your [work].

So where do we take our projects and resources to share? Projects like Equity Unbound pioneer intentional hospitality online through community activities and events and offer an inspirational example for dedicated communities - but no easy to adopt blueprint for individual practitioners or Open Education teams. 

In order to navigate these fragmented spaces, we need to use critical digital and data literacy to empower engagement and amplify diverse voices. By sharing practical examples and how-to this session will enable participants to explore and evaluate engagement strategies for themselves whilst building confidence in new social spaces online. Our session will provide resources and strategies designed to help participants navigate an increasingly fragmented and contested social media landscape.

Oh, and did we mention conference swag?! Come and find out to get your hands of some of the best stickers and postcards around (all designed in collaboration with the one and ONLY Bryan Mathers, whose Fabulous Remixer Machine recently one the OE Global Award for Open Reuse / Remix / Adaptation!)