Intercambios: Spanish OER Exchange 

The conference will open with a special presentation highlighting University of Iowa initiatives to create OER textbooks for the entire General Education program. This initial session will showcase our process of developing 6 books within 5 years with the creative and pedagogical input of 12 authors and many more supporters. 

This session will highlight two major affordances of adopting OERs: cost savings for students, and curricular autonomy. The University of Iowa’s Spanish GEP OER textbooks are saving students over $136,624.50 per academic year; as one student said, “I liked the textbook a lot. The topics were engaging and relevant to our learning goals. There were a lot of great videos and graphics that helped understanding. “ 

As for faculty, authoring OERs allows them to draw on the latest pedagogical research in designing learning activities that align with their teaching philosophy and their students’ needs. 

“My students always smile on the first day of class when I tell them our textbook is an OER and completely free. They’re genuinely grateful that we created it specifically with them in mind." - Dr. Jiménez

We will also discuss the major obstacles to adopting OER textbooks, namely the perception that they are lower quality than commercial textbooks, often due to a lack of name recognition and technological sophistication, and the  lack of empirical research analyzing the outcomes of adoption and implementation.

Register to the conference here

Registration Form

Call for Papers

Conference Dates: November 12, 2025

Location: University of Iowa + Online 

The Spanish and Portuguese Department at the University of Iowa and the Center for Language and Cultural Learning are pleased to announce the Call for Proposal for the 2025 Intercambios, Spanish OER Exchange in Iowa City and online. This conference will be of particular interest to people interested in adopting and creating Open Educational Resources for post-secondary Spanish language instruction.

The deadline for submitting proposals is Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Questions regarding the program, proposals, or the submission process can be sent to the Program Chair, Giovanni Zimotti (giovanni-zimotti@uiowa.edu).

This conference seeks to bring together language educators and researchers to advance the creation and adoption of Spanish OER Textbooks. 

We are accepting proposals for 10-minute presentations in the following categories:
  1. Spanish OER Textbook & Content Development Projects: Share your experiences creating, adapting, or implementing Spanish OER textbooks. This could include:
    • Showcasing newly developed Spanish OER textbooks or materials.
    • Discussing the process of adapting existing OER for specific contexts (e.g., heritage speakers, specific levels, online learning).
    • Sharing innovative approaches to OER content creation 
    • Exploring collaborative OER development projects.
    • Reflecting on the challenges and successes of OER implementation in your Spanish courses.
       
  2. Empirical Research on OER in Spanish Language Education: Present research studies that investigate the impact and use of OER in the context of Spanish language teaching and learning. This could include:
    • Studies on OER adoption rates and factors influencing adoption among Spanish instructors.
    • Research analyzing the effectiveness of Spanish OER on student learning outcomes.
    • Investigations into student perceptions and experiences with Spanish OER.
    • Studies exploring the impact of OER on pedagogical practices in Spanish language courses.
    • Research on the cost savings and equity implications of using Spanish OER.

Submission Guidelines:

  • Proposals for 10-minute talks should be submitted electronically via this FORM by Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
  • Each proposal should include:
    • Presentation Title
    • Abstract (maximum 300 words).
    • Presenter name and affiliation.
    • Indication of the presentation category (OER Textbook/Content Development or Empirical Research).

Organizing Committee:
Claire Frances
Luke Whitaker
Giovanni Zimotti