Are you an author or #OER lead in Iowa? Do you wish you had access to a publishing platform for your work? Check out our new blog post from @amhgruber.bsky.social about Manifold, which Iowa colleges have free access to through our consortial OEN membership:
iowaoer.com/2026/02/19/m...
If you can’t make the webinar, feel free to check out our YouTube channel for the recording, or check out our channel now to review past webinars from the Iowa OER team: www.youtube.com/channel/UCKI...
Making OER Accessible: A Title II Discussion. February 18, 2026. Noon to 1pm Central time.
For our first Iowa OER webinar of 2026, we're hosting a Q&A about the new guidelines for accessibility! Many institutions are concerned about how these changes will affect their courses. Luckily, OER can be adapted to meet requirements without having to wait!
iowaoer.com/event/making...
Thank you @openaccesselder.bsky.social for writing this month's blog post! If anyone in our community has recommendations for future resource highlights or webinars from the Iowa OER team, you can send those to us directly or share your thoughts via our mailing list: iowaoer.com/contact/
It's great to see more examples of how people are teaching with #OER! Local educators may be interested in learning more about social annotation in courses using open textbooks (and other materials as well):
Congratulations to our peers at Open Oregon Educational Resources for the launch of their open curriculum projects, a suite of peer-reviewed open textbooks with linked course packs and print options available. This is a great example for others in the #OER space!
openoregon.org/open-curricu...
If you want more information about Manifold before diving in, your can browse existing projects, including ones from Dordt and UNI. Our consortium has its own dedicated Collection, the Iowa Colleges & Universities Collection: manifold.open.umn.edu/projects/pro...
If you're an Iowa college interested in supporting #OpenTextbook development, you should know that Iowa OER can help you access Manifold, an #OER publishing platform, through our membership with the @openednetwork.bsky.social!
Learn more about this benefit and others: iowaoer.com/about-open-e...
New blog post!
This month on the Iowa OER blog, we're spotlighting the work of Math faculty from @dordtuniversity.bsky.social who recently presented about their experiences with #OER:
iowaoer.com/2025/11/19/n...
Interested in learning more about other open work that scholars are doing around the world? Join our peers at the Iowa Regent universities next week for a keynote lecture about #OpenAccess publishing and more!
Register to attend the online presentation: uiowa.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Announcement graphic. Now available! Access handouts, guidance, images, and other resources from across the web to support your OER efforts.
We recently finished a project to update our #OER Toolkit, a collection of resources from across the web pulled together to support OER leaders. Reviewing & organizing the content took some time, but we hope it will support our community!
Access the toolkit on our site: iowaoer.com/iowa-oer-too...
Poster advertising Disciplinary OER Communities of Practice. Cohorts available for Psychology, teacher education, and environmental science/Agriculture. Apply to connect!
Final call for applicants! iowaoer.com/oer-communit...
If you or someone you know is interested in participating in this year's cohort for our free #OER Communities of Practice, be sure to get signed up by the end of the day tomorrow, September 19th!
Photo of a person reaching up to open window curtains, letting sunlight stream into the room. Headline reads, "Because the possibilities are wide open."
This fall, 🍁 reach for new possibilities with 2026 certificates from the OEN:
CERTIFICATE in OPEN PEDAGOGY
Create student-centered curriculum w/ open pedagogy.
z.umn.edu/OpenPedCert
CERTIFICATE in OPEN EDUCATION LIBRARIANSHIP
Build your action plan to grow open education.
z.umn.edu/OpenEdLibrar...
Did you miss our announcement last week about the #Iowa #OER Award winners? Check out the features for our award winners on our website, starting with Melanie Bloom, a high school teacher and recipient of our first OER Creation Award!
iowaoer.com/oer-creation...
New semester, new resources! 🙌 We’ve added 18 free online, expert-written, openly licensed textbooks to our library. They even come with free instructor resources like test banks & PowerPoint slides, too!
🙌 Give them a try this fall: openstax.org/blog/the-new...
#OER #HigherEd #K12 #OpenStax
OER Adoption Award: Heather Schaffner (University of Northern Iowa)
An OER leader at her institution, this history instructor has transitioned nearly all of her courses to using free materials, including a mix of OER and library-licensed content.
iowaoer.com/oer-adoption-award/
OER Adaptation Award: Nikki Harken, Deb Young, Sadé Barfield, & Scott Bredman (University of Northern Iowa)
This team of instructors has adapted material from several OER to create a custom book that meets the needs of their multi-course communication sequence.
iowaoer.com/oer-adaptation-award/
Supplementary Materials Award: Dr. Amber Anderson (Iowa State University)
This instructor has developed handbooks and support materials for high school soil judging contests, Iowa septic installers--and yes, also college students!
iowaoer.com/supplementar...
OER Creation Award: Melanie Bloom (Sioux Central High School)
This high school teacher led a grant project which has impacted hundreds of students across Iowa and beyond, making science engaging and relevant!
iowaoer.com/oer-creation...
Open Pedagogy Award: Melissa Kleinschmit, PhD & Chelsea Clegg, PhD (Northeast Iowa Community College)
These award winners collaborate with their students to develop websites on course topics, helping students develop media literacy skills.
iowaoer.com/open-pedagogy-award-winners/
Open Educator Award: Dr. Giovanni Zimotti, et al
This team of 13 instructors has collaborated to develop an innovative and flexible open Spanish curriculum that supports learners across Iowa and beyond!
iowaoer.com/open-educato...
Colorful graphic announcing that the 2025 Iowa OER Award winners list is now live. Quote: "Check out the list of award winners on our website."
2 announcements in one week? That's right! Not only is the CFP for our 2025 Communities of Practice live, we've also just posted the official announcement for the winners of the 2025 Iowa #OER Awards!
Learn more about the winners and their work with open education at iowaoer.com/iowa-oer-awa...
Many of our community members have been looking for more opportunities to dig deeper into how open education programs are supported and sustained. Check out this series for some interesting insights! www.iskme.org/event/design...
Have you heard? We've just opened the call for participants for our annual OER Communities of Practice! Apply now through Sept 12 to participate! Instructors in the fields of Psychology, Teacher Education, and Agriculture/Environmental Science are encouraged to apply.
iowaoer.com/oer-communit...
Wondering what the Iowa #OER team has been up to this year? It's been a lot! Our annual report is not yet public, but in the meantime, you can read up on one of our projects from the past year on our blog, our third annual OER Communities of Practice Program!
iowaoer.com/2025/06/12/j...
New blog post! graphic over a fun science-themed background.
New blog post! Learn about the amazing work behind openscied.org, a free, high-quality #OER science curriculum with the support of educators across Iowa & beyond. OpenSciEd is an excellent example of what educators can do when they're given the tools & time to succeed.
iowaoer.com/2025/05/28/m...
While colleges and universities have implemented various programs to support students’ basic needs, many adult learners do not take advantage of them due to critical barriers.
“Basic needs insecurity is a tangible crisis affecting adult learners nationwide.”
We uncover the issue across #HigherEducation, and share federal, state, and institutional resources that have the potential to make a difference. Learn more: sr.ithaka.org/blog/from-ch...
There's only a few days left to nominate yourself or a peer for an Iowa #OER Award! If you know an educator in Iowa (K-16) who has supported learners through open education work, please consider nominating them for this opportunity!
iowaoer.com/2025-iowa-op...
2025 Iowa OER Awards nominations open! 5 nomination categories: adopt, adapt, create, create supplementary materials, and open pedagogy. $1K to $2K per award.
Have you or colleague used #OER for a class in Iowa? Consider nominating yourself or them for an Iowa OER Award!
This new award celebrates instructors across the state working with OER, from K-12 to higher ed. Nominations are open until June 1: iowaoer.com/2025-iowa-op...
A colorful poster with the text "new blog post!" in all caps.
Our latest blog contribution comes from Northeast Iowa Community College's Shannon Brenner, who shares her instructional design team's experience aligning #OER to courses through Course Blueprints!
#InstructionalDesign #CourseAlignment
iowaoer.com/2025/04/29/a...
