Italian in Wonderland, an OER Digital Language and Culture Learning Platform Bridging Lower and Upper Division Levels

This article presents Italian in Wonderland (https://italianin wonderland.arizona.edu/), an open education digital platform designed for basic, intermediate and upper-level Italian courses. This innovative platform, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, progresses from easy to challenging ensuring a smooth and continuous learning experience eliminating the disparity between lower and upper division courses. Italian in Wonderland uses a holistic teaching and learning approach integrating Italian language and culture and offering instructors and learners up-to-date materials centered around a variety of cultural topics. In this article we outline the origin of the project and the undertaking of bridging language and upper division courses. We delve into the courses and modules design highlighting the various activities we developed, with a particular emphasis on a learnercentric pedagogy that encourages active participation. By fostering engagement, Italian in Wonderland aims to encourage ongoing learning in upper division levels and equip learners for future professional pursuits.