Teaching Open Science Together: Lessons from a Week of Collaborative Training

OpenAIRE successfully concluded another edition of its flagship five-day online train-the-trainer bootcamp for Open Science trainers. Organised twice a year, the bootcamp continues to provide a dedicated learning environment for professionals seeking to strengthen their knowledge of Open Science while developing effective, learner-centred training practices. As in previous editions, participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting not only the quality of the content but also the highly interactive and supportive learning experience. The bootcamp continued to foster a growing community of Open Science trainers by encouraging networking, collaboration, and the exchange of experiences across institutions, disciplines, and countries. 

Strengthening pedagogical confidence through interactive learning

Participants consistently praised the pedagogical design of the bootcamp, particularly its balance between theory, practical exercises, and opportunities for reflection. Interactive elements such as breakout discussions, quizzes, collaborative activities, and gamified exercises, were repeatedly identified as key factors in maintaining engagement and supporting learning. Many respondents highlighted that the bootcamp provided practical strategies for designing training from the ground up, encouraging participants to consider learners' needs, define appropriate learning objectives, and select teaching approaches suited to different audiences. The variety of instructional methods not only illustrated good pedagogical practice but also provided participants with techniques they intended to adopt in their own Open Science training. 

Building a collaborative and supportive community of trainers

A second recurring theme was the strength of the learning community created throughout the week. Participants highly valued the welcoming and supportive atmosphere fostered by both the trainers and their peers, describing the environment as one in which they felt comfortable contributing to discussions and exchanging ideas. Opportunities to collaborate in breakout rooms, share professional experiences, and engage with trainers from different countries and areas of Open Science expertise were seen as particularly enriching. Beyond the live sessions, participants appreciated the extensive collection of resources made available through the learning platform, recognising that these materials would continue to support their professional development long after the bootcamp had concluded. 

Expanding Open Science knowledge with practical relevance

Participants also emphasised the breadth and relevance of the Open Science topics covered throughout the programme. Sessions addressing Open Access, research data management, publishing policies, artificial intelligence, citizen science, and other emerging developments were frequently mentioned as valuable additions to participants' existing knowledge. Many appreciated that the bootcamp combined subject-specific expertise with guidance on how to communicate these topics effectively through training. Respondents noted that the resources and examples provided would enable them to organise training sessions within their own institutions and projects, while also helping them better understand the evolving Open Science landscape.

Improving navigation, expectations and collaborative activities

While feedback was overwhelmingly positive, participants also identified several opportunities for refinement. A number of respondents found aspects of the OpenPlato learning platform difficult to navigate, particularly when locating study materials and assignment submission areas. Others suggested that clearer communication before the bootcamp regarding the expected time commitment, preparatory materials, and assignment requirements would help participants better plan their workload. Some participants also reported challenges during group assignments, including uneven participation. Finally, a small number of respondents suggested providing brief demonstrations of unfamiliar interactive tools and clearer examples for selected exercises to further enhance the learning experience. 

Course content

The resources and presentations from the bootcamp are curated and made available on our e-learning platform, OpenPlato. The course is fully open, with materials shared under a CC BY licence: https://openplato.eu/course/view.php?id=59. 

Disclaimer

Certain phrasing in this post was suggested by AI, and has been reviewed and edited by the author.