Speaking of Higher Ed: Conversations on Teaching and Learning

Have you ever felt that traditional grading methods fail to accurately measure student learning?   In this episode, we explore an innovative approach called "ungrading" that challenges the traditional grading system. Drs. Bond and Kays discuss how ungrading does not mean no grades. It means a shift in focus from grades to student autonomy and learning.  Ungrading can also help you highli...

What is Hip-Hop pedagogy? How can the use of Hip-Hop culture in curriculum engage students and create relevant connections to course content? Kelly R. Allen, PhD , is an Assistant Professor of Curriculum Studies in the College of Education and Human Development Department of Research, Counseling, and Curriculum at Augusta University and advocate for the implementation of Hip-Hop based education. D...

Should I discuss AI with my students? How can I benefit from using AI?   In this episode of Speaking of Higher Ed, David Joyner, PhD, joins us to explore these questions and how AI is transforming education, for students and educators. ChatGPT generated significant discussion when it launched in November 2022. Now, with more than a year of growing in understanding about generative AI, we are disco...

Are you a faculty member looking to collaborate with community organizations? By working together, universities and community organizations can create mutually beneficial relationships that enrich the educational experience, address community needs, and contribute to positive societal outcomes.  Achieving the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is one of the aspirational imperatives inclu...

Every semester presents a mix of challenges and opportunities for both students and faculty. In this episode, Jenn Rose and JoAnn Edmond share five practical tips to help kickstart the semester on a strong note.  We discuss the importance of crafting a learner-centered syllabus and getting a jumpstart on integrating tools within the Learning Management System (LMS). Our conversation also touches o...

Seeking a short course on course design or an active learning toolkit? Explore MomentumU, a virtual professional development platform tailored for University System of Georgia (USG) faculty and staff. Directed by Peter Berryman, the Director of Digital Instruction at the Office of Teaching and Learning Excellence for USG, this platform hosts a growing array of short courses and other resources.  F...

How might a blend of Montessori and traditional grade school education influence a college professor? Dan Kaminstein, MD, MSED, serves as the Assistant Dean for Ultrasound Education and Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia. Kaminstein's exposure to both Montessori and traditional education shapes his teaching approach, leading him to reflect on how students learn....

Are you exploring the possibility of incorporating low or no-cost educational materials into your course? Whether you're just curious about these resources or ready to integrate them into your teaching, this episode of Speaking of Higher Ed helps you get started.   In this month's episode, we're joined by Jeff Gallant, the program director of Affordable Learning Georgia (ALG). ALG is o...

How do we know good teaching when we see it? Whether you're a new faculty member, a seasoned educator, or an administrator, this episode offers a look at how we can better understand and promote effective teaching practices. Lauren Barbeau, PhD, Assistant Director for Learning and Technology Initiatives at Georgia Tech, joins us to discuss the Critical Teaching Behaviors framework (CTB). The C...

On this episode we sit down with Neil MacKinnon, PhD, Augusta University provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. MacKinnon places a strong emphasis on building connections with faculty, staff, and students. He discusses the profound impact such relationships have on the college experience for students.  On the topic of mentorship, he shares personal anecdotes of how mentorship p...

Uncover the elements of high-impact practices and immerse yourself in the captivating world of 'Reacting to the Past' in this special episode of Speaking of Higher Ed...Summer Shorts.  Looking to keep students engaged and motivated in higher education? Quentin Davis, PhD and Hannah Bennett, PhD from Augusta University share insights on high-impact practices that go beyond traditional teach...

On this special episode of Speaking of Higher Ed...Summer Shorts we revisit innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Rhia Moreno, PhD shares how she employs multimodal pedagogy to cultivate a dynamic learning environment that caters to diverse learning styles. Discover the transformative power of creative reflection in both online and face-to-face courses.  Arthur Takahashi sheds light on t...

In this episode we explore an innovative teaching method that has been gaining popularity in recent years: 'Reacting to the Past', also known as ‘Reacting’. This pedagogy uses immersive role-playing games to teach complex historical and contemporary issues in a highly engaging and effective way.  Our guests, Andrew Goss, PhD, and Ruth McClelland-Nugent, PhD, both experienced history educat...

Are you looking to improve student engagement and motivation? Dr. Quentin Davis and Dr. Hannah Bennett from Augusta University discuss high-impact practices that go beyond test memorization and create lifelong learners. By incorporating elements such as appropriately high expectations and frequent feedback, these practices can help you keep your students engaged and motivated throughout their acad...

AI has created a conundrum for higher education. AI text generators, computer programs capable of efficiently producing quality written content, have raised questions about the possibilities, ethics and limits of the use of programs such as ChatGPT in higher education. While artificial intelligence (AI) has been a part of our lives for a while — hello Siri, chatbots, and real-time autocorrect and...

How are the words and pictures you use in your course content helping to improve learning for your students? Arthur Takahashi, adjunct faculty member and instructional designer at Augusta University, discusses how he uses multimedia learning principles in his course design and delivery to do just that. Mayer and Moreno’s (1999) study of the cognitive principles of multimedia learning continues to...

Dr. Rhia Moreno from the College of Education and Human Development discusses how she applies multimodal pedagogy to create a more varied learning environment that supports different learning styles and skillsets. Her approach includes incorporating AU approved tech such as Flip, Padlet and VoiceThread as well as encouraging creative reflection in face-to-face and online courses. In this episode o...

Speaking of Higher Ed is a new podcast from Augusta University that exists to create a resource that will inspire and assist faculty in creating engaging and meaningful learning experiences. We hope to provide higher ed faculty with a platform for sharing research related to the scholarship of teaching and learning, spark new instructional ideas and promote interdisciplinary instructional methods....