by Heather Blicher, CCCOER Director
You may have seen me, Liz Yata (Manager of CCCOER Communities), or a CCCOER Executive Council member presenting at a state or regional conference on behalf of CCCOER in the last several months. Why? Because presenting at regional conferences is one of the ways we stay connected to the people who shape Open Education (OE). These events give us the chance to share what we’re working on – like in our session “Reimagining CCCOER: A Community of Practice for the Future of OE” – but more importantly, they let us listen and learn from others in the field.
One recent highlight: I had the opportunity to present at the virtual Open Education Talks in March, a fantastic weekly event held each Wednesday during the month with a series of 15-minute lightning talks about OE. Register next year and you can look forward to a handful of curated accessible conversations each week, developed in partnership with representatives from Mount Royal University, Thompson Rivers University, the University of Alberta, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Calgary.
We’re intentional about where we show up. Our time is limited, so we rotate conferences and events across states, regions, and countries to engage with as many communities as possible to talk about the topics we care about and our work. In addition to virtual and in-person conferences, in the last year, I was honored to be invited to present:
- A workshop for the Maine Library Association’s Academic Interest Group hosted at Colby College in Waterville, Maine (Read more.)
- A keynote for the Virginia Community College System OER & Distance Learning Conference hosted at Germanna Community College in Fredericksburg, Virginia
- A workshop at the Oklahoma Learning Innovations Summit hosted at Rose State College in Midwest City, Oklahoma with Kathy Essmiller of Oklahoma State University
- A professional development webinar with MarylandOnline with Andrea Scott of Salt Lake City Community College (virtual)
We believe real change happens through relationships. By showing up in these spaces, we get to build connections, hear what’s happening from attendees and presenters, and invite folks to add their knowledge and experience to the CCCOER community. It’s about staying grounded, sharing ideas, and growing the movement together.
And if you’re organizing an event, let us know! Many of the conferences we attend come from shares on the CCCOER listserv/community email. Keep posting those events and who knows where we’ll show up next?
Upcoming Presentations
In the next month, we’ll be presenting at two free, virtual events – a great way to see what’s happening in different regions from your own, hear new ideas, and connect with others – join us!
Community College LINK 2025 Conference: (RE)Building Relationships Among Pennsylvania Community College Libraries
Heather Blicher and Liz Yata, CCCOER/OEGlobal
May 9, 2025, 1:00 – 1:50 pm EDT
Florida OER Summit: A Virtual Conference: Engage and Empower
Heather Blicher and Liz Yata, CCCOER/OEGlobal
May 22, 2025, 3:00 – 3:30 pm EDT
Featured Image: open road photo by John Dame on Unsplash