Watch This Space!

OEGlobal 2026
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OEGlobal 2026 is in motion with the release of the conference program and registration now open. Also in motion are planning for how to have a common place for in-person and online participants to meet and engage in discussion-- that space is here in OEG Connect.

Since March, we set this up openly as a simple series of topics and appreciate the participation in a few discussions. Changes are in motion to reconfigure it for the conference. Watch this space!

Woman and man painting multiple curveing lines of color on a building front where large letters in squares read Watch This Space
Woman and man painting multiple curveing lines of color on a building front where large letters in squares read Watch This Space1920×1287 731 KB

watch this space flickr photo by malias shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC 2.0) license

First of all, we will be adding a few sub channels to organize discussion, e.g. conference information, meet and greet attendees, session discussions, and asynchronous activities, and maybe more (we are fielding requests). You can see how this was done for previous OEGlobal Conferences in 2024 in Brisbane, Australia), 2023 in Edmonton, Canada)](OE Global 2023 - OEGlobal Connect), and 2022 in Nantes, France).

The big change for 2026 is that these conference spaces will be visible only to registered conference attendees (details coming on how to get access) and then publicly shared after the conference.

We consider this in the vein of a Third Place concept to be the place for in-person and online attendees to interact and enhance the conference experience. Always the challenge at any conference is that one person cannot attend all sessions, can we work together to bring together not just the highlights but the discussions of the conference themes.

Building an online space only goes so far, it’s success relies on the participants to be active here when they can, and to help invent a global conference experience. Ask questions, share resources, support with reactions, reply to others, let’s make this place come alive.

There are already active discussions where you can participate such as sharing what works for you in hybrid conference formats or telling your earliest memory of MIT Courseware.

If you want to try an activity, remix and share our OEGlobal 2026 Digital Postcard or explore a GenAI assistant for creating a Cambridge land and people acknowledgement.

Again, this is just beginning. Stay tuned for a guide to the space, how to access it, and how to make the most of this place.

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Fresh paint and new structures are coming Monday! What seems to get lost here is that OEG Connect is built on the long time community open source platform Discourse.

It’s design is one not overly structured on pre built spaces, they are more like large general rooms, but the activity is driven by community participation and participants who take on the role to add to existing conversations and start new ones.

That said, our ears are open to any and all suggestions for what conference attendees would find useful. What you an expect from the current general space will be more like the exterior of the conference center, with public information about the conference and information on how to be part.

The “interior” will include a series of broad areas that will require gaining access via an invitation link sent to conference attendees such as:

  • The Lobby: Meet and greet attendees, make connections, have general open conversations as one would have in the main entry of foyer of a conference center. We will open topics (or you can) for first-time attendees, special interest groups, etc. Registered participants can start their own threads for making dinner plans, arranging meetups, going on campus tours, etc.
  • Information Desk: This is where we post updates, conference information and guides to help attendees, a place for participants to ask questions, get help etc.
  • Topical Discussions This is the conversation space about the conference themes, highlights shared from sessions, hallway conversations, etc. This is wide open for joining and starting new conversations.
  • Activities / Things to Do Here we make room for asynchronous discussions or activities one might do outside of sessions, ways to get to connect with others, whether in Cambridge or online. Maybe this is like the bulletin board in the conference hall.
  • Sponsors Area Here we provide a place for our conference sponsors to set up their virtual table, be on hand to answer questions, share more about their offerings.

These are based on what we have done before, but are not fixed in concrete. I am more than welcome to take requests and there is the positive bit here of building the airplane while flying in that we can make changes as needed.

We hope you not only watch the space but share your ideas.