The Higher EdTech Podcast

Ever wonder how colleges handle emergencies? IVC's Director of Technology Services Nick Wilkening comes back for a follow-up to the last episode, revealing behind-the-scenes insights into institutional readiness and cybersecurity in this compelling episode. From practical personal preparedness tips to understanding how campuses operate during crises, this conversation offers valuable perspective f...

We brought IVC's Director of Technology Services back on the show to talk about the types of campus-wide tech updates we've been implementing at IVC and how understanding them can help make a more secure work environment.  Show notes at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com  

AI Bots are popping up into our Zoom meetings, our online classes, and more. This is more than just a classroom issue - many meetings across campuses are starting to feel the slow creep of bots coming in to replace attendees for people who will "check the highlights" later - but can we trust the accuracy of these bots to summarize or give voice to important issues that come up? We're discussing th...

Want to simplify your Google workflow but don't know where to start? We're exploring some Google add-ons that can make your workspace work for you. Show notes and info at www. TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com  

There are a lot of teachers out there who like AI for their personal lives, but don't want to bring it into their classroom or to have it touch their pedagogy. No problem! There are certainly ways to use AI as a teacher without having it touch your curriculum. In this episode, Tim & Brent discuss some of the ways to incorporate AI into your workflow in ways you might be more comfortable with. More...

You deserve your winter break, so we're keeping it short and sweet with some quick and actionable tips that you might not have known about to help save you time and improve your workflow. Links & Show Notes at https://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com

Are people asking you what gift you want for the holidays, or maybe you're struggling to find the right thing for the nerdy someone in your life? Tim & Brent share some ideas for things that a techie teacher might enjoy at the end of 2024. Links & Show Notes at https://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com

2025 is upon us, and it's time to start thinking about the new semester. In this episode, Tim and Brent talk about some considerations that you might start planning for now in order to make a smooth (and possibly experimental) transition into 2025.  Show notes at thehigheredtechpodcast.com  

Open Educational Resources are commonly discussed on college campuses, but what are they and why are they so important? Our OER librarian, Rachel Fleming, joins us to explain the big picture behind OER and how they can positively impact the lives and learning experiences of our students.  More info at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com  

Custom bots programmed with a specific goal in mind are a great way to focus studies for students. There are a number of ways to do this, but with Playlab AI, we're offered a FERPA Compliant option that we can share with all of our students. Tim & Brent recently got access to building in Playlab - listen in for their impressions! Show notes at thehigheredtechpodcast.com  

A lot of people want AI on their campus, but don't have a plan in place to make it happen. Tim & Brent talk about what's needed to build a campus-wide action plan to ensure that AI is thoughtfully integrated on campus. Show notes: TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com  

There's a lot of murkiness around how to define policies around AI. In this episode, Tim and Brent break down some of the realities of trying to make rules around AI and share some resources that have been built on the topic. If you're trying to figure out how to set expectations around the use of AI in your classroom, this episode is for you! Show notes: TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com  

The modern classroom requires teachers to have a diverse set of tech skills to engage students and stay relevant. In this episode, Brent Warner and Tim Van Norman dive into the essential tech competencies both new and experienced educators should possess for face-to-face and online teaching. From setting up your classroom tech to leveraging learning management systems, this discussion offers pract...

There are a lot of changes that have happened at Canvas. We talked about them a bit on episode 1, but we're doing a deep dive today!  For more information, check out the show notes at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com  

We're back for a 6th season!

Thanks for tuning in this season. We're wrapping up with a brief overview of some of the season's highlights as well as some advice on how to wrap up your semester. We also share a few conferences that might be worth checking out over the summer! Thanks so much, everybody - we'll see you in August! More information at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com  

Canvas Quizzes is finally getting the attention it's been needing for years. Despite threats of losing access to Classic Quizzes, this part of Canvas has been a bit of a mess. Now it seems that Canvas has started addressing the problems, so Tim & Brent are looking over some of the features and the things to know. Listen in to get a sense of what's available in the New Quizzes and why you might wan...

It's hard to keep all the things we're  supposed  to do straight during a busy semester, and sometimes mistakes happen. Tim & Brent discuss what to do when things go wrong, and ways to mitigate potential tech mistakes in the future. Listen in for some tips you might not be aware of as well as some refreshers for the things you don't usually have to think about until they become a problem. Shownote...

Google has let the world know that Jamboard is going to the Google Graveyard, and many teachers are eyeballing alternatives. One of the most popular choices, and one that has a lot of robust features perfect for teachers is Figjam. Brent and Tim take a look at some of the enhanced features of this free resource and how it can work in the classroom. Shownotes at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com  

Running campus events, from guest speakers to club meetings to commencement and everywhere in between takes more consideration than ever before. Tim & Brent look at a number of the items you'll need to think about as you're planning to run events in person, online, or mixed as we come closer to the end of the school year and enter "events season". Listen in as we discuss the details and the consid...

Ever wondered how how to deal with the problems we see around AI? This episode of "The HigherEdTech Podcast" dives deep into the heart of AI's role in community colleges and universities. Join us as we explore both the revolutionary benefits and the challenges that educators face in integrating these technologies into their curriculums. Understanding AI's Potential : How can AI transform teaching...

In Part 2 of our talks with teachers about building custom AI for their classes, we sit down with Zhen Zhai, professor of C++ at Irvine Valley College to talk about how she's used her background in Artificial Intelligence and computer science to build a custom bot for her programming students.  Professor Zhai discusses the innovative use of AI bots in Discord for enhancing student learning. Discov...

Can custom chatbots transform your teaching approach? Discover the how professor Ric Epps is exploring the potential of AI in his classroom with custom immersive prompts. Hear how you can do the same by integrating immersive chatbot experiences in the classroom, reshaping student engagement, and redefining traditional teaching models. Listen in to hear about: Custom Chatbots in the Classroom: Lear...

Are you looking at bringing AI into your classroom but don't know where to start? Tim & Brent dive into the crucial considerations and practical steps educators must contemplate when integrating AI into their teaching methodologies. This episode looks at a few of the areas we all need to consider: AI in Education : Exploring the potential and challenges of integrating AI into teaching practices. P...

Lots of useful updates have come in to Canvas recently, so we're covering the most useful. From Gradebooks to Document Displays to Waitlist Enrollments, listen in to hear if there's something that can help you out as we step into the spring semester. Links & Show Notes at https://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com