ABSTRACT VIEW
TRANSFORMING EDUCATION THROUGH OPEN PEDAGOGY: AN OPEN PEDAGOGY LAB INITIATIVE
J. Mena, A. Fernández, M.C. Sánchez, J. Martín, M. Martín-del-Pozo, R. Sánchez-Prieto
University of Salamanca (SPAIN)
The Open Pedagogy Lab (OPL) has been envisaged within the context of the European Campus of City-Universities (EC2U). EC2U is a multi-cultural and multi-lingual Alliance consisting of eight European universities: the University of Coimbra, the University of Lași, the University of Jena, the University of Linz, the University of Pavia, the University of Poitiers, the University of Salamanca and the University of Turku. The Alliance’s ambition is to develop an innovative space allowing mobility between the seven universities and associated cities.

The OPL main goal is to address the growing need for accessible, inclusive, and innovative approaches to higher education. The OPL is a proposal that would serve as a collaborative space for educators, researchers, and stakeholders to explore, develop, and implement open pedagogical practices that enhance teaching and learning experiences at the university level.

This paper presents the three primary outcomes of the OPL, each designed to foster educational transformation and scalability:
(1) Teaching Resources Repository: The OPL is intended to offer a curated, user-friendly repository of openly licensed teaching materials, including lesson plans, case studies, multimedia content, and toolkits. These resources cater to diverse disciplines, empowering educators to adopt and adapt content aligned with their instructional goals. Developed with input from educators at the consortium universities, the repository ensures pedagogical relevance;
(2) Personalized Assistance for Educators: This part is designed to support educators in the creation, implementation and exploration of innovative teaching resources. By offering personalized tools, such as Open Educational Resources (OER), Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) and collaborative events like hackathons, this space seeks to enhance the educational experience. The Teaching Experimentation Space empowers educators to experiment with digital tools to develop creative and effective content;
(3) Virtual Institute for Open Pedagogy: Serving as a hub for professional development, research dissemination, and community engagement, the Virtual Institute would offer synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities, including webinars, online courses, and conferences. It supports educators in exploring theoretical and practical aspects of open pedagogy, providing a foundation for diverse applications.

In conclusion, the OPL would constitute an example of the transformative potential of open education. These initiatives not only address educators' immediate needs but also lay the foundation for a more equitable, inclusive, and collaborative education by exploring innovative practices and enhancing student engagement.

Keywords: Open Pedagogy, Digital Literacy, Higher Education, Open Educational Resources (OER), Collaborative Learning.

Event: INTED2025
Track: Digital & Distance Learning
Session: MOOCs & Open Educational Resources
Session type: VIRTUAL