Input requested: Helping attendees connect at OEGlobal 2026

[Heather Blicher]

Hello everyone,

I'd love to get your thoughts on an idea related to the OEGlobal 2026 Conference.

We're discussing ways to help attendees connect before and during the conference, especially those who are attending for the first time, traveling alone, have accessibility needs, or are looking to share lodging costs. My hope is to make it a little easier for people to find others with similar interests or needs before they arrive.

If you're part of OEGlobal Connect (or would like to join), I'd love for you to add your thoughts to the discussion here:
https://connect.oeglobal.org/t/options-for-private-channel-discussions/9177/2

If you'd rather not use another platform, no worries! Just reply to this email and share your ideas with the list. I'd especially love to hear:

• What has helped you feel connected at conferences?
• What kinds of spaces or opportunities would have been helpful to you?
• Are there other ways we could make it easier for people to connect before arriving?

Some events already in planning (but too early to share in-process details just yet):

• The official conference social event
• A sponsored CCCOER & Friends event
• A day where a number of lunch tables will have optional focuses with conference hosts leading informal conversation on various topics of interest

Whether you're planning to attend OEGlobal 2026 or simply have ideas from conferences you've attended in the past, I'd really appreciate your perspective.

Thank you!

Heather

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Heather Blicher (she/her)

Director, Community College Consortium for OER

hea...@oeglobal.org| CCCOER.org | OEGlobal.org

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[Alan Levine]

Thank you Heather for your ideas on enabling conference attendees to make connections well in advance of the conference, we are eager to start opening not just spaces we define but hoping participants initiate their own discussions and idea sharing. 

Beyond channels of communication, I'd like to draw attention that OEGlobal is a hybrid format conference and we are also seeking your ideas and experiences to help shape how enable the sense of "being" there whether in person or online. We also have been discussing and sharing experiences in hybrid conferences and I am keen for ideas shared there or here . Also, note that on August 6, we are hosting a "listening session" on hybrid experiences in collaboration with Maha Bali and Equity Unbound to hear more from the community. We  hope you can be there as we embrace the conference theme of Come Invent With Us (a hybrid experience).

Alan Levine, Director Commuinty Engagement at OEGlobal

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