This short presentation examines the instructional decisions involved in the creation of an OER for Spanish for Business Professionals at the University of Kentucky. Authenticity serves as a core principle in these decisions, as it lies at the intersection of OER practice, instructional design, and second language acquisition. Using this Business Spanish resource as a case study, the presentation will discuss its planning, development, and classroom implementation, showing how these choices are informed by instructional design and learning theories. It will also explore how authentic materials, meaningful tasks, and real-world professional contexts are integrated into the resource to support relevant and transferable learning, and it will reflect on possible next steps for further improvement.
Attendees of this session will be able to:- Explain how OER, instructional design, and second language acquisition inform one another.
- Evaluate the role of authenticity in the design of second language learning materials.
- Analyze how learner needs and instructional context influence OER development.
- Apply practical principles for planning and developing OER in higher education.
- Identify transferable strategies for revising and improving openly licensed teaching materials.
