Centering Centers

In this tenth bite-sized episode of PodBites, Adam Barger talks with DeElla Wiley from Auburn University about what science fiction can teach us about educational development. In just a few minutes, DeElla shares five lessons for approaching teaching and learning work with imagination, curiosity, and care, from starting with “what if?” to recognizing uneven futures, understanding that technology i...

What happens when higher education moves faster than we have time to think? In this episode of Centering Centers, we talk with Adam Barger about curiosity, agency, digital fluency, and what it means to keep humans at the center of conversations about AI. Adam reflects on why higher education can sometimes approach AI from a “hunger mindset,” rushing toward new tools and possibilities before fully...

In this ninth bite-sized episode of PodBites, Adam Barger talks with Stephanie Whalen from Harper College about developing a culture of faculty engagement that actually takes hold across an institution. In this quick conversation, Stephanie shares five practical insights drawn from her experience building high levels of faculty participation in teaching and learning initiatives. From understanding...

In this episode of Centering Centers , we talk with Thomas Tobin about what it means to build a teaching and learning center from the ground up and what happens when that work is shaped by listening, context, and collaboration. Drawing on his recent experience working with a university in the Philippines, Tom shares how a center can grow from “a name on a door” into something that actively support...

In this eighth bite-sized episode of PodBites, Adam Barger talks with Shauna Mayo from Brightpoint Community College about making course alignment feel manageable for faculty. In this quick conversation, Shauna shares five practical insights to help design courses that actually support student learning. From starting with outcomes instead of assignments and making assessments measurable, to mixing...

In this special episode of Centering Centers , guest host Danielle Gabriel talks with Emily Drabinski about how academic libraries shape the way we find and understand information. From subject headings to search systems, they unpack the hidden structures behind information literacy and what they mean for teaching, learning, and civic engagement. If you’ve ever wondered why some ideas are easier t...

In this seventh bite-sized episode of PodBites, Adam Barger talks with Mike Reese from Johns Hopkins University about using a network approach to scale digital innovation in teaching and learning centers. In this quick conversation, Mike shares five practical insights drawn from sociological research and his leadership experience in educational development. From filling structural holes and levera...

What if imagination is one of our most practical tools for the future? In this episode of Centering Centers , we talk with Bryan Alexander about what it means to think ahead when the world and higher education keep changing. Bryan shares how he came to futures work, what futurists actually do, and why learning to notice patterns, ask better questions, and explore multiple possible directions can h...

In this sixth bite-sized episode of PodBites, Adam Barger talks with Diana Theisinger from William & Mary about integrating principles of online course design into in-person teaching. Diana shares five practical insights drawn from her work with faculty developing online courses, and how those same design principles can strengthen face-to-face instruction. From thinking about courses holistica...

What brings joy and energy to online teaching, especially in asynchronous courses? In this episode of Centering Centers, we talk with Flower Darby about her new book, The Joyful Online Teacher: Finding Our Fizz in Asynchronous Classes. She explores what often gets lost in online learning and why community, connection, and emotion matter just as much online as they do in person. She shares stories...

In this fifth bite-sized episode of PodBites, Adam Barger talks with Lindsey Hamilton from Bates College about dealing with “programming lemons” in faculty development. In just a few minutes, Lindsey shares five practical and playful strategies for assessing when programs are no longer serving their purpose, making thoughtful decisions about where to invest energy, and selecting programming that t...

In this fourth bite-sized episode of PodBites, Adam Barger talks with Heather Keith from Radford University about navigating controversial topics in classrooms and beyond. In just a few minutes, Heather offers five grounded and practical insights, beginning with determining whether a topic is truly relevant and moving through the pre-work of building community, modeling humility, and preparing stu...

What if we treated every name as a story worth learning? In this episode of Centering Centers , we talk with Constanza Bartholomae from Bryant University about the humanity at the center of teaching and learning. Constanza shares how identity and names shape our sense of belonging, and how the quiet work of being seen and seeing others influences the relationships that hold academic life together....

In this third installment of Podbites , Adam Barger talks with Gilpatrick Hornsby of James Madison University about how leadership development and educational development meaningfully overlap. In five quick insights, Gilpatrick explores why leadership programs should emphasize transferable skills, how these programs can reconnect faculty and administrators, the importance of self-selection, and th...

What does it mean to teach for integrity when artificial intelligence changes how we work, write, and learn? In this episode of Centering Centers , we talk with Tricia Bertram Gallant and David Rettinger about their new book, The Opposite of Cheating: Teaching for Integrity in the Age of AI. They share how conversations about cheating and honesty are evolving, what durable human skills still matte...

In this second bite-sized episode of PodBites, Adam Barger talks with Betsy Barre from Wake Forest University about how educational developers can “build a bigger tent.” In just a few minutes, Betsy offers five thoughtful and practical insights, from avoiding the word “training” to designing for disagreement, that invite educators to reimagine how we welcome diverse perspectives, foster inquiry, a...

"Why not be kind?" In this episode of Centering Centers, we talk with Cate Denial from Knox College about how kindness shows up in teaching, leadership, and everyday interactions, and how it can shape the ways we respond to challenges and change. She reflects on kindness not only as a pedagogy, but also as a practice and a discipline, and reminds us that kindness isn’t just for students,...

In this first bite-sized installment of PodBites , Adam Barger chats with Mike Blum from William & Mary about practical strategies for engaging faculty. In under five minutes, Mike shares five quick, creative approaches, ranging from consistent, personal communication to partnering with faculty and valuing their expertise, that can help educational developers strengthen relationships and spark...

What does it mean to bring curiosity back into the classroom? In this episode of Centering Centers , we talk with Bethany Lisi from the University of Massachusetts Amherst about her upcoming book on curiosity in higher education. She shares why curiosity matters now more than ever, the variables that spark it (novelty, surprise, complexity, and ambiguity) and how faculty can design classrooms that...

Centering Centers, Episode 71 In this episode of  Centering Centers , we talk with Anna Santucci (University of Virginia), Barbara Bird (Ohio Wesleyan University), and Jayln Parker (Colorado Technical University) about their roles in launching and leading the new POD Perspectives Conference Reporters initiative. Anna, who guided the transition from  POD Speaks!  to  POD Perspectives , shares the v...

This episode of Centering Centers explores how educational developers are responding to the rise of generative AI in higher education. The conversation touches on faculty creativity, student learning, ethical tensions, and the importance of building AI literacy across disciplines. It’s a thoughtful look at how AI is reshaping teaching, learning, and the work of educational development itself. Tran...

What happens when we stop focusing on grades and start focusing on learning? In this episode of Centering Centers , we explore the practice of ungrading in higher education. Our guests reflect on how traditional grading systems can undermine motivation and share insights into alternatives like specifications grading, feedback-centered approaches, and project-based learning. Along the way, they dis...

This episode explores the transition from faculty member to educational developer, highlighting how past experiences as students and instructors shape approaches to faculty support. They share insights into the challenges of course design, the value of community, and the ongoing learning required in their new roles. The conversation emphasizes how educational development work can help faculty reco...

Today’s episode features Elizabeth Dickens (University of Virginia) and Nausheen Shafiq (University of British Columbia) in discussion of a manuscript on curriculum developers in educational development, which is under review at  To Improve the Academy .    This is the fifth episode of the partnership between  To Improve the Academy  and Centering Centers. We hope to pull back the curtain on the j...

Today’s episode features Bill Pilny, Benjamin Brock, and Stephanie Laggini Fiore in discussion of their recent  To Improve the Academy  article, “Impacts of campus disruption on educational developers’ role-identity and teamwork.” The authors apply the Dynamic Systems Model of Role Identity (or DSMRI) to the work of educational developers during the disruption of COVID-19 on our campuses. They pre...