Connecting the Dots: Workforce Educational Modules to Link Practice with Digital Open Resources

Slideshow for the 2026 Open Education Conference. The abstract submitted for the conference application is pasted below: This study bridges academia, industry, and public sectors through OER development for municipal drinking water workforces. We created learning modules for continuing education, co-developed with industry professionals. These modules are built by and with users, closely considering their end use throughout the creation process. We show that while OERs advance accessibility for learners, digital commoning through boundary organizations also ensures that users can contribute to or create content that reflects their community’s concerns, historical knowledge, and specific skills. The presentation reports on use of Gala, an open educational tool, to collaboratively design learning modules on water flushing and disinfectant by-products for water utility professionals. These modules were conceived in university partnerships with civic utilities, developed and beta-tested in partnership with boundary organization The Water Tower via a networkshop and in-person piloting in Spring 2026.