MENOMONIE – The 2026 Effordability Summit will be held April 6–7 at UW–Stout. The regional conference focuses on the development, use and creation of high-quality, affordable curricular materials across K-20 education.
Hosted by UW-Stout, the summit brings together students, faculty, librarians, technologists, campus store professionals and administrators from K-12 schools, two-year colleges and four-year universities. Discussions will cover topics including open educational resources, inclusive and equitable access to course materials, teaching and learning practices, artificial intelligence and the role of commercial textbooks.
The in-person conference is free to attend, and registration is available.
This year’s theme, “Empowering Every Learner: Designing Accessible and Engaging Courses,” highlights innovations aimed at lowering educational costs and strengthening sustainable open education programs. Sessions will explore open educational resource adoption and creation, inclusive access programs, library initiatives and the use of alternative materials to replace traditional textbooks.
The April 7 keynote speaker will be Sarah Hansen, assistant director of open education innovation at MIT Open Learning. Hansen will discuss strategies used by MIT OpenCourseWare to sustain commitments to open education and preserve knowledge as a public good.
Breakout sessions will explore a wide range of topics related to open educational resources, affordability and emerging technologies in education, including artificial intelligence. Sessions will focus on strategies for building and sustaining OER programs, incorporating artificial intelligence into teaching and research, and improving access to course materials for students.
Presentations and roundtable discussions will examine topics such as AI-assisted course design, accessibility workflows, and ethical and practical uses of artificial intelligence in classrooms and libraries. Other sessions will highlight student perspectives on OER and AI-generated materials, innovative library initiatives, and collaborations that support graduate student success.
Additional sessions will address open pedagogy, low-or no-cost course materials, digital accessibility, and ways educators can replace traditional textbooks with open or alternative resources. Networking breaks, exhibits and panel discussions will also provide opportunities for participants to share ideas and learn about new tools and approaches that support equitable access to educational content.
For more information, contact UW-Stout Continuing Education and Conferences, 715-232-3793, or by email at [email protected]. Go to the Effordability Summit website for a complete schedule of events.
Editor’s Note: A breakout session on Tuesday Apr 7 (10:15am) entitled “Using Artificial Intelligence to Alleviate Social Isolation and Loneliness” is being presented by Mary Linberg & Tracy Fischer from Dunn County ADRC!
