Open Education Week: March 2-6
Open Education Week (OE Week) is a global celebration of open educational practices and resources, organized by OE Global. Learn more about OE Week worldwide at OE Global.
Open Education in Tennessee
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) fosters collaboration among colleges and universities to develop strategies that lower the cost of course materials and expand access to Open Educational Resources (OER).
Events
The following activities are part of Tennessee’s participation in Open Education Week. These events are being hosted by institutions across the state, with some organized by campus partners and others coordinated by THEC.
| Recordings | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting Tennessee Educational Outcomes with Open Education | This session explores how Open Education aligns with Tennessee’s goals for educational attainment. We will explore how Open Education lowers financial barriers for students and boost student engagement and achievement. We will discuss the findings of the 2025 Tennessee Open Education Report and how students, faculty, administrators, and advocates can support Open Education at their institutions and across the state. This session is only available remotely. | |
| OER Champions Showcase @ MTSU | Celebrate Open Education Week with us as we spotlight MTSU faculty leading the way in textbook affordability and open educational practices! This showcase will feature short presentations from faculty who have developed oradopted Open Educational Resources to enhance student learning. We’ll also announce our first-ever Textbook Heroes Awards and celebrate a major milestone —$3 million in student savings from ZeroTextbook Cost courses. This session will be facilitated by Ginelle Baskin, Open Education Librarian. This session will also be presented synchronously via Zoom. Please take a moment to complete the session evaluation if you attended or watched the recording. Use this link to access it: |
|
| TeachBridge Pathways: From Practice to Profession | Join us for an overview of TeachBridge Pathways, an open education resource (OER), competency-based teacher preparation curriculum designed to connect theory and practice while expanding access to high-quality preparation. This session will highlight how TeachBridge supports universities by reducing common barriers to entering the teaching profession—such as cost and geographic location—by creating flexible, affordable pathways for aspiring educators, particularly those from rural and underserved communities. Participants will hear directly from Faculty Fellows from the University of Tennessee Southern (UTS) and Austin Peay State University (APSU) who authored and piloted the curriculum, sharing insights from implementation and impact. Together, we’ll explore how TeachBridge Pathways empowers aspiring educators to confidently move from practice to profession while advancing innovative, scalable approaches to teacher preparation. This session will also be presented synchronously via Zoom. Please take a moment to complete the session evaluation if you attended or watched the recording. Use this link to access it: |
|
| Collaborating with Students on Research Supporting Open Education Programs | This session will highlight how the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s has benefited from student-led research projects that support Affordable Course Materials Initiatives (ACMI). ACMI research projects provide students with experiential learning opportunities and portfolio-level projects. Students bring their diverse disciplinary approaches and personal interests to the research. We will review previous and ongoing research topics and hear perspectives from student assistant and program administrator. This session is only available remotely on this Zoom Link. | |
| MTSU Student Perspectives on Textbook Costs | How do textbook costs affect MTSU students’ learning experiences, choices, and success? Join us as we share findings from a recent campus-wide survey exploring the impact of course material costs on students. This session will highlight key data, student voices, and opportunities for faculty to make their courses more affordable and equitable through the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) and other no-cost materials. This session is only available remotely on Zoom. View the session recording. Please take a moment to complete the session evaluation if you attended or watched the recording. Use this link to access it: 2026 Open Education Week Presentation Feedback Survey |
|
| OER - Artificial Intelligence (AI) Teaching and Learning Tools | This session will focus on OER AI Tools for teaching, learning, and research. Participants will explore integrating open educational resources with AI-powered tools to design inclusive, innovative, and accessible learning experiences. Whether you are an educator, researcher, or instructional designer, you will leave with actionable AI tools for creating, compiling, and advancing open education in the age of AI. Zoom Link |