Reflections On the 2025 Open Education Conference

In this episode of OpenEd Mic, the hosts reflect on their experiences attending the Open Education Conference 2025 in Denver, sharing insights from sessions, hallway conversations, and reconnecting with colleagues across the open education community. 

The conversation explores the benefits and challenges of the conference’s hybrid format, with thoughtful discussion around accessibility, engagement, and how in-person energy shapes collaboration. The hosts identify several recurring themes from the conference, including the growing role of artificial intelligence in open education, the shift from affordability-only narratives toward demonstrating student outcomes and impact, and an increasing focus on accessibility in response to upcoming federal requirements.

They also highlight standout sessions on workforce development, data-driven storytelling, open pedagogy in STEM, and large-scale research demonstrating the impact of OER across institution types. Beyond formal sessions, the hosts emphasize the value of informal conversations—building community, sharing challenges, and welcoming new voices into the open education space.

The episode concludes with reflections on what lies ahead for open education, including global collaboration, deeper integration of OER into institutional practice, and the potential for AI-supported tools to lower barriers to creation and accessibility. Together, the discussion paints an optimistic picture of a growing, evolving, and resilient open education community.

Learn more about the conference at https://openeducationconference.org/2025.

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Meet Your Hosts

Your hosts—Kevin Corcoran, Zach Claybaugh, Brittany Dudek, and Dr. Michael A. Mills—bring decades of combined expertise as prominent thought leaders in open educational resources (OER) within higher education. With extensive backgrounds spanning digital learning, library science, student success initiatives, and strategic leadership at state and national levels, they have collectively shaped policies, driven impactful initiatives, and advocated passionately for increased access to education. Their collaborative approach highlights their deep commitment to advancing open education practices, ensuring quality, affordability, and accessibility for learners everywhere.