What would it look like if every course you taught was more inclusive, more transparent, and more centered on the learners in front of you? At a time when educators are being asked to do more with less, and to do it more equitably, Critical Open Educational Practices (Critical OEPs) offer a framework for meaningful change. This session centers the practitioner experience of seven MinnState educators who arrived at Critical OEPs through different pathways, and whose engagement with the framework affirmed their values, expanded their practice, and moved their teaching in new directions. Grounded in four pillars, collaborative dialogue, critical reflection, inquiry-based learning, and transformative action, Critical OEPs offer a path toward pedagogical transformation. This session explores how educators negotiated authority, practiced equity, and sustained change within institutional constraints. Attendees will reflect on their practice and leave with concrete ideas for their classrooms.
Attendees of this session will be able to:- Identify the four pillars of Critical OEPs and connect them to their own existing teaching practices.
- Describe how educators negotiated authority, equity, and learner agency within real institutional constraints.
- Articulate at least one concrete next step for deepening their engagement with Critical OEPs in their own classroom.
