D2L's Teach & Learn

We are living in an increasingly digital world where nearly everything we do generates data. This information can be used to come to profound and impactful decisions that create tremendous benefits—but only if we can interpret, understand and put the insights to use.   The trouble is that although many of us are data-aware, we're far from data-literate. And for the data-driven world of today,...

As the debate over whether a post-secondary degree is worth it rages on , higher ed institutions are seeking solutions that can help them attract and retain new students. Enter data-driven decision making. When done properly, a well-executed data and analytics strategy can positively impact both student and institutional success. Universities and colleges that can properly harness and analyze thei...

What if you were asked to incorporate climate action into your existing curriculum? Would you respond with: “I’m not a climate scientist,” and follow up with “what does climate have to do with what I teach?” It may sound odd, but whether you teach calculus, drama, or beginner Spanish, our podcast guest says ALL courses are climate courses—period.   Many of us experience feelings of anxiety or hope...

This is how a typical work life unfolds: we get an education, then a job and after 40 years or so at that job, we retire. But experts say, that won’t work in the future. (Pardon the pun).  People are living longer, healthier lives. Now, before you start planning an extra, extra-long retirement, consider that the longer you live, the longer you’ll need to stay in the workforce. And the more importa...

Student identity is crucial in K-12 public schools, but it’s not always given the attention it deserves. When students feel a sense of belonging and see their identities reflected in the spaces and curriculum around them, they thrive. This can have positive trickle-down effects on well-being and academic engagement.  In this episode of the Teach & Learn podcast, Dr. Emma Zone talks to Sharonda...

We have a collective responsibility and an obligation to work toward making education equitable for all learners period. Wouldn’t this world be a better place if anyone who desires to learn, regardless of gender, religion, race, location, socioeconomics, and the like, could access high-quality education? Of course. What if the words ‘opportunity’ and ‘divide’ never had to be paired together? We’d...

Counter to the old adage, the US Department of Education is looking to fix something that many argue ain't broke ...  Right now, distance education is being reviewed and new regulations are being considered in the name of consumer protection.  It's believed that the US Department of Education is operating under the misconception that distance education is somehow less than traditional in...

It's nearly time to roll out the red carpet! The STLHE Awards are fast approaching, and the D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning Co-Chairs couldn't be more excited.  Dr. Aleksandra Zecevic and Dr. Jovan Groen sat down with Dr. Cristi Ford to discuss the highly anticipated annual event and of course, the awards! As our Canadian listeners know, the Society for Teaching and Learnin...

As educators, we know that knowledge is power. Nowhere is this more evident than in underserved and displaced populations. According to the United Nations, nearly half of all refugee children are not attending school. Thankfully, there are initiatives and individuals doing the work to help increase access to education for refugee populations. In this episode of the Teach & Learn podcast, Dr. C...

As AI continues to spread across the education landscape, the role of teachers is shifting. But what if educators looked at AI as a complement to their skillset, rather than a threat? In this episode of the Teach & Learn podcast, Dr. Cristi Ford talks to Michael Feldstein , Chief Accountability Officer at e-Literate about the impact of AI on education and the importance of teaching skills in t...

While the applications and advancements in AI, robotics and intelligent machines are proving to be invaluable at the moment, our next guest reminds us of the old adage that nothing in life is free.  Dr. Matt Beane is an award-winning robotic surgery researcher, an assistant professor in the Technology Management Program at the University of California , Santa Barbara, and a prominent thought leade...

While many educators are cautiously dipping their toes into the LLM waters, this episode's guest has been playing in the depths and enjoying every minute of it. Reed Dickson is an educator, writer, designer and speaker focused on the future of teaching, learning, EdTech and AI. He joins Dr. Cristi Ford to share his passion for this evolving technology and his thoughts on how educators and stu...

Welcome to another episode of Teach & Learn brought to you by D2L. Our regular listeners will know that we have been diving into AI as of late. As this technology evolves so must the conversation. It’s our responsibility to continue to question, investigate, and examine as it becomes more and more ubiquitous—this isn’t the time to make assumptions about AI—especially when it comes to education...

Many K-12 teachers view critical thinking as a crucial skill for students to work on. But unlike a core subject, teaching it isn’t as simple as carving out a dedicated time slot and running an assessment at the end of the term. Technology can certainly help support the development of critical thinking skills, but only if used correctly. In this episode of the Teach & Learn podcast, guest host...

AI is here, and it’s here to stay. Whether you’re an early adopter of artificial intelligence or still reluctant to embrace it, the reality is it’s only going to become more and more prevalent. As with most technology, it will eventually find its way into nearly every aspect of our work and daily lives.  If it’s everything our guest believes it to be, we’ll wonder how we ever lived without it.   A...

There’s been a lot of chatter in the higher education world about the need to redefine the value proposition around credentials and skills. How does one verify a credential or skill from one university versus another? On top of this, universities and colleges are grappling with how to make sure they’re closing the chasm between what employers need and what types of skills their graduates are bring...

In this episode of D2L's Teach & Learn podcast, Dr. Cristi Ford discusses the importance of humanizing online learning with guests Nicolas Parés and Mandi Singleton. They talk about the need for building meaningful connections in virtual spaces, share why it's important for educators to be vulnerable and provide practical tips and tools for faculty looking to create better engagement...

In today's episode, we welcome Michelle Sengara, Director of Academic Innovation at York University, to discuss how to systematize and scale innovation at higher education institutions. Our guest and host chatted about the systems approach to innovation, the importance of building relationships and reimagining teaching and learning as dynamic networks of interactions and the challenges of int...

Today’s episode is all about change management in the K-12 industry. Change management at the elementary and high school levels can involve pedagogy, administrative process and technology, or a combination of one or more of these areas. But it can often be met with resistance by educators, students and parents. To discuss these topics further, we welcomed Dr. Kathleen Grigsby, Assistant Superinten...

In the latest episode of D2L’s Teach & Learn, we delve into the science behind learning and the importance of running on-going experiments in education. To discuss these topics further, Dr. Cristi Ford welcomed the winners of the XPRIZE Digital Learning Challenge: Norman Bier, John Stamper and Steven Moore, from Carnegie Mellon University. Click here for show notes and more information. Thank...

We are thrilled to be launching Season 2 of Teach & Learn , a podcast for curious educators. Our host, Dr. Cristi Ford kicks things off with an episode on the challenges and opportunities in preparing post-secondary graduates for the world of work. To discuss this issue further, we welcomed Joseph B. Fuller, Professor of Management Practice in General Management at Harvard and Kerry McKittrick...

In this episode, we’re discussing professional development (PD) in K-12 educators. We all know that effective PD is essential to the growth of not only educators but also students. When done correctly and consistently, it provides teachers with the necessary training needed to meet the needs of young learners. There’s a growing need and opportunity to modernize K-12 PD and to support educators and...

In today’s episode, we’re revisiting what has arguably been one of the hottest topics over the last few months: artificial intelligence and its impact on the future of education. To date, we’ve had professors discuss the pros and cons of generative AI and hosted experts who’ve broken down the tech behind tools like ChatGPT. Today, we’ll be discussing different applications of AI in schools and uni...

Our guest today, Dr. Julia Christensen Hughes , is the President and Vice-Chancellor of Yorkville University certainly fits this theme well. A true educational disruptor, she’s become known for creating radical shifts in the higher education industry in Canada over the course of her career. She discussed how her university experiences helped shape her path as an educational disruptor, the challeng...

In today’s show, we’re flipping the script and shining the spotlight on student voice. Honoring student voices in the education experience can take many forms. It could mean involving students in decision-making processes on campuses, recognizing them as agents of change within their own learning communities, and so many more. But one thing is clear: when institutions take the time to embrace and...