The Letters and Science Exchange

In this episode, we speak with Łukasz Wodzyński, Assistant Professor in the Department of German, Nordic, and Slavic+ and winner of the 2026 Chancellor’s Teaching Innovation Award. Łukasz talks about making learning portable, connecting course themes to student experiences, and the value of the humanities in a changing world. Access the transcript for this episode. The L&S Exchange Podcast is...

In this episode, we speak with Brandon Bloch, Assistant Professor of History and winner of the 2026 William H. Kiekhofer Distinguished Teaching Award at UW-Madison. He shares how he engages students in their own areas of interest while teaching challenging subjects in the age of AI. He also discusses the many influences on his teaching practice and recommends resources for other instructors.   See...

In this Article Remix, IDC team members Maria Widmer and Molly Harris chat about their recent L&S Design for Learning article “ Supporting First-Year Students .” They share tips from research literature and examples from L&S instructors on how to support first-year students’ academic and social transition to college. Find inspiration and consider how you might incorporate these strategies...

We talk with pianist, composer, and L&S Teaching Assistant Daria Tennikova about her expansive teaching experience. From private piano lessons to group music theory and composition courses to a YouTube channel with thousands of subscribers, Daria brings a commitment to helping others enjoy learning. In this episode, she shares her approaches to teaching and provides insights into practice, fee...

In this Article Remix, IDC team members Laura Schmidli and Molly Harris chat about their recent L&S Design for Learning article “ Maximizing Impact: Effective Strategies for Large Lectures .” They share examples from their research and from L&S instructors for fostering belonging, engaging students, and promoting learning in a large course environment. How might you embrace the challenges...

We kick off Season 4 with a conversation about music, creativity, and the art of learning. We hear from two UW-Madison music educators, Assistant Professors Amy Lewis and Jesse Rathgeber, as well as L&S students. They share stories of curiosity, improvisation, and connection that can inspire us all as instructors.  See the transcript for this episode. The L&S Exchange Podcast is brought to...

We welcome six L&S undergraduate students to the Exchange for a roundtable conversation about teaching and learning. Through their personal stories, these students share what makes an assignment spark curiosity, how interdisciplinary learning has brought value to their lives, and why they love a challenging course. See the transcript for this episode. Episode 29: Student Perspectives on Teachi...

In this episode, Molly Harris talks with Patti Coffey, Faculty Associate in the Department of Psychology, about the practice and value of community-based learning. Patti shares how reflection, storytelling, and active engagement contribute to mutually beneficial partnerships between students and the community, with a focus on the area of prisoner reentry.

In this episode, Molly Harris talks with Mike Wagner,  William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Mike shares how he uses assignments and group projects to engage students in issues relevant to their lives, while building students’ practical skills. Listen for inspiration and tips for how you can make learning even more authentic...

We partner with the Center for Ethics & Education for an episode about trust in higher education. Carrie Welsh interviews Anthony Laden, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the author of a new book Networks of Trust: The Social Costs of College and What We Can Do About Them. Along with UW students, Carrie and Tony explore how higher education asks students to c...

To close out the year, Molly Harris sits down with Lyn Macgregor, Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Sociology. They explore a resource that Lyn and her colleagues created to help instructors uncover the hidden curriculum for students. These innovative modular slide decks feature local examples and reflection questions, all designed to help students navigate unspoken academic n...

In this episode, Molly Harris sits down with Léa Gustin, Assistant General Chemistry Lab Director, and Claire Lundberg, Graduate Student and Teaching Mentor for General Chemistry. We explore what it takes to teach one of the largest courses on UW-Madison’s campus and the role that mentorship plays for the success of this expansive teaching team. Léa and Claire share unique insights and practical t...

In this episode, we listen in on a conversation between Exchange contributor Laura Schmidli and Sarah Jedd, Associate Director for Introduction to Speech Composition in the Department of Communication Arts. Sarah shares the joys of managing a diverse teaching team of over 30 TAs. She reveals the opportunities for ethical education and community-building that large-enrollment courses can offer to t...

As the start of the semester nears, Jonathan Klein and Molly Harris talk with Greg Downey, Evjue-Bascom Professor in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication and the Information School. Greg shares how he sets students up for success in his courses by building trust, intervening early, and communicating transparently. See the transcript for this episode. The L&S Exchange Podcast is br...

We get ready for Season 3 of the L&S Exchange by talking with Shirin Malekpour, Associate Dean for Teaching & Learning in the College of Letters and Science. Listen now for highlights from the upcoming season, which includes stories from L&S instructors and practical advice for teaching large-enrollment courses.  See the transcript for this episode . The L&S Exchange Podcast is bro...

Creating a poster for the UW-Madison 2024 Teaching & Learning Symposium prompts L&S Exchange Producers David, Molly, and Laura to take time to reflect on two seasons of work on the podcast. They share what they’ve learned from guests about inclusive teaching, and how the collaborative–and sometimes risky–process of producing a podcast has been worthwhile for sustaining conversations about...

In the second episode of our two-part series with Campus-Wide TA Award winners, Lynne Prost and Molly Harris speak with Capstone TA Award winner Lucas Wiscons. Lucas reflects on theories, such as “decentering,” that have informed his teaching practice and shares advice for forming positive mentoring relationships, whether between experienced and newer TAs or between faculty supervisors and their T...

Guests: Patricia Chan and Haley Johnson In the first of our two-episode series featuring outstanding L&S Teaching Assistants, we host a roundtable discussion. Lynne Prost, Assistant Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs, and Molly Harris, Associate Producer for the L&S Exchange, talk with two Campus-Wide TA Award winners: Haley Johnson (Early Excellence in Teaching Award) and Patricia Chan (A...

We’re trying something new this month! This mini episode features two real-world questions from L&S instructors, with recommendations from two of our instructional technologists at the IDC, Antonella Caloro and Laura Schmidli . Listen in as they discuss a practical tool for scheduling office hours on demand, and a recommendation for weekly, repeating assignments in Canvas.  The L&S Exchang...

In the second episode of our two-part miniseries on coaching, Molly Harris talks with Gary White, Associate Head Coach of the UW Volleyball team. Coach White discusses how he and his coaching team foster belonging and resilience in their student-athletes. He emphasizes the importance of goal-setting and the feedback loop to support individual and team growth.    Episode Transcript The L&S Exch...

This episode is the first in our series on coaching and teaching. Exchange Producer David Macasaet talks with Jon Reader, Associate Head Coach of the UW-Madison Wrestling team. They discuss supporting student athletes on and off the mat and the inclusive experience of communally conquering a challenge–like running the Camp Randall stairs at 6am. See the transcript for this episode. The L&S Exc...

We wrap up 2023 with a thank you to all our guests, supporters, and listeners. And we tease our upcoming limited series. Listen now to find out what’s up next in 2024!  Episode Transcript The L&S Exchange Podcast is brought to you by L&S Teaching & Learning Administration and produced by the Instructional Design Collaborative . This podcast is recorded on ancestral Ho-Chunk land, a pla...

In this episode, Exchange Producer David Macasaet sits down with Sam Pazicni, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, to discuss assessment in chemistry education. Sam shares how his background in music performance has influenced his approach to creating authentic, equitable assessments. He also introduces our audience to the Science Practices from the Next Generation Science Standards as an additional...

In this episode, Laura Schmidli speaks with Dr. Janet Batzli, Director and Distinguished Faculty Associate Emerita in the Biocore Program, as she looks back on over two decades of teaching experience. Dr. Batzli shares inclusive practices from biology classrooms and from her research with colleagues. We explore experiential learning, student leadership and mentoring, threshold concepts, and ways o...

In this episode, we talk with Cindy I-Fen Cheng, Robinson Edwards Professor of American History and Asian American Studies and current Interim Director at the Center for the Humanities. Cindy speaks about her personal experience with inclusive teaching and how her teaching practice has evolved to better account for her own well being and positionality. See the  transcript for this episode . The L&...