Since it's inception, the open education movement has spread worldwide and recruited countless advocates to it's cause. However, new textbook sales models such as "Inclusive Access" programs stand to compromise the progress these advocates have made over the past several years. In order to ensure that this progress can continue, it is critical that advocates are equipped with the skills they need to drive forward open education initiatives in their local context. This session will equip attendees with foundational advocacy skills that can be used to drive change at their institutions and beyond. Attendees will learn how to "think like an advocate", including how to frame problems, set goals, develop strategies, and pitch solutions. While the skills taught can be applied to advocacy on any topic, this session will specifically center the issue of “Inclusive Access” programs and the threat these model presents to the goals of open education initiatives.
Attendees of this session will be able to:- Use problem and solution frameworks to set advocacy goals.
- Assess stakeholders and understand their motivations with respect to an issue.
- Analyze decision-making processes and develop strategies to influence decision-makers.
- Effectively pitch an “ask” to decision-makers and respond to challenging questions.
- Start an advocacy plan on an issue of importance to capacity building efforts in their local context.
