Effective communication is an important tool for any advocate’s toolbox — whether that’s knowing how to ask a politician to support OER legislation, convincing an institutional leader to fund an initiative, or effectively rebutting the case of someone who opposes OER.

Whether you are a seasoned advocate or a newcomer to the movement, communicating about OER can be challenging. People do not always see the value of OER immediately, and the idea of “open” can be complex and difficult for some people to grasp. “Openwashing” is also becoming an issue, as more special interests have begun to co-opt the term open in ways that twist its meaning.

The session will offer a crash course on basic advocacy communications, providing advice and examples to help OER advocates sharpen their communications skills. Topics covered will include:

• What is advocacy communication?
• Proactive vs. reactive communication strategies
• Crafting and delivering a compelling message
• Getting people to understand what “open” means
• Defending against “openwashing”
• Tips and lessons learned
• Examples from the field