Transform Your Teaching

In this episode originally aired November 24, 2023, Dr. Rob McDole and Dr. Jared Pyles joined forces with Dr. Haisong Ye who has a PhD from Indiana State University and is an instructional designer in the CTL at Cedarville University. Together they discussed the principles for effective objectives by creating a course on how to make a good cup of coffee. View a transcript of this week's episode ....

In this episode originally aired February 17, 2023, Dr. Rob McDole and Dr. Jared Pyles introduced the topic of "Servant Teaching.” They discussed the philosophy behind servant teaching and provided the biblical basis for being a servant teacher. Transform Your Teaching wants to hear from you! Please take our survey to let us know how we can make the podcast even better. View a transcript of this w...

In this episode, Dr. Rob McDole and Dr. Jared Pyles reflect on all that happened with the show in 2024. They discuss the progress that the show has made, some of their favorite moments of the year, and consider new ideas for 2025. Transform Your Teaching wants to hear from you! Please take our survey to let us know how we can make the podcast even better. View a transcript of this week's episode ....

What is backchannel communication, and what effects can it have on students in a cohort? In this episode, Dr. Rob McDole, Dr. Jared Pyles, and several members of Jared’s cohort at Boise State (Dr. Arielle Horan, Daniel Singletary, Dr. Jamie Vick, and Kim Woodruff) discuss how backchannel communication can create a sense of community and build relationships among distance learning students. Transfo...

In this episode, Dr. Rob McDole and Ryan Liming chat with Rob’s usual partner in crime but now with a new title: Jared Pyles, Ed. D. Join them as Jared shares about the biggest takeaways from his experience with his studies. Transform Your Teaching wants to hear from you! Please take our survey to let us know how we can make the podcast even better. View the transcript of this week's podcast. Reso...

What are the major lessons that Jared and Rob learned from our series on understanding the new college student? What things stuck with them, and how are they applying them to serve students? Join Dr. Rob McDole and Jared Pyles as they discuss their key takeaways from the series. Transform Your Teaching wants to hear from you! Please take our survey to let us know how we can make the podcast even b...

Dr. Rob McDole and Jared Pyles chat with two more students about their adjustment to college life. How prepared were they to overcome academic struggles? How did they approach taking ownership of their own learning? Join Rob and Jared for this final of three student interviews.  Transform Your Teaching wants to hear from you! Please take our survey to let us know how we can make the podcast even b...

Dr. Rob McDole and Jared Pyles chat with two more students about their adjustment to college life. How does instructor support influence their connection in a class? How much are they using technology outside of academics, and how do they feel it affects them? Join Rob and Jared for this second of three student interviews. Transform Your Teaching wants to hear from you! Please take our survey to l...

Dr. Rob McDole and Jared Pyles chat with two students about their adjustment to college life. How did their educational background prepare them for college? What are they doing to work through personal and academic stress? How are they spending their time outside of the classroom? Join Rob and Jared for this first of three student interviews.  Transform Your Teaching wants to hear from you! Please...

What are some of the unique college trends for students growing up in a rural environment? How can being a first generation college student affect a student entering higher education? Jared Pyles chats with Dr. Arielle Horan (Director of Silver Valley Upward Bound at University of Idaho) about her research on students in rural districts. Transform Your Teaching wants to hear from you! Please take...

We’re at the midway point of the semester, so let’s take some time to discuss Rob’s class. Have the students kept up with Rob’s academic prowess? How is Rob engaging with students and implementing things discussed across this series? What does he have planned to continue meeting students’ needs? Join Dr. Rob McDole and Jared Pyles as Rob reflects on the class thus far. Transform Your Teaching want...

How does a student’s non-academic life affect their academic life? Are there patterns outside the classroom that are affecting their learning? Dr. Rob McDole and Jared Pyles chat with Professor Jeremy Oliver (Assistant Professor of Applied Theology at Cedarville University) about factors that are contributing to a student’s academic performance. Transform Your Teaching wants to hear from you! Plea...

How is social media contributing to students’ mental well-being? What about mobile devices? Are there other factors affecting student mental health? Nancy Gillespie (Senior Director of School Counseling at Grove City Christian School) joins Dr. Rob McDole and Jared Pyles to discuss these questions and more. Transform Your Teaching wants to hear from you! Please take our survey to let us know how w...

What are some of the changes in the new group of 18–22 year-olds who are entering higher education? What factors are affecting their maturity and resilience? What can instructors do to serve them? Dr. Rob McDole and Jared Pyles chat with Dr. Jon Wood (Vice President of Student Life & Christian Ministries at Cedarville University) about current college student trends. Transform Your Teaching wa...

What kind of technological access did incoming college students have, and could that affect their college readiness? How might increases in mental health issues affect their college life?  Will the “math shark” affect their academic performance? Are we already seeing its effects? Join Dr. Rob McDole and Jared Pyles as they detail the landscape of some challenges facing current and upcoming college...

Where does the next generation of college students come from? What are their demographics? How does their school typology influence their college preparedness? Join Dr. Rob McDole and Jared Pyles as they share data and create a profile of Ohio’s current and incoming college students.  Transform Your Teaching wants to hear from you! Please take our survey to let us know how we can make the podcast...

What does the new generation of college students look like? What experiences do they bring? What challenges should higher education faculty be prepared to face? Join Rob McDole and Jared Pyles as they introduce this new series. Transform Your Teaching wants to hear from you! Please take our survey to let us know how we can make the podcast even better. As a thank you, each month from October throu...

Last summer, the Transform Your Teaching hosts talked a lot about AI and its role in education. What has changed in the world of AI since that summer 2023 series? Were Rob and Jared’s ideas on the trajectory of AI and its uses on point or totally off base? Listen as Rob McDole and Jared Pyles revisit some of their takes and give an update on the current climate. Resources FOCUS Blog from the Cedar...

What does competency-based education look like on an international scale? How can theological education and competency-based education be paired well together? Rob McDole and Jared Pyles discuss competency-based theological education with the founding president of Veritas College, Dr. Bennie Wolvaardt. Resources FOCUS Blog from the Cedarville University CTL  Chat with us! Connect with us via Linke...

In this episode, Rob and Jared chat with Lauren Eissler, who serves as the UX Designer and Editor at the CTL. She also edits all the content for the podcast (including what Jared is typing right now) [this sentence is Lauren-approved]. Listen as they discuss hockey, video games, and the ways we are trying to expand the podcast in the future. Transform Your Teaching is also launching a monthly news...

What are Rob and Jared’s biggest takeaways from our series on active learning? Where do they see active learning spaces heading in the future? How will Rob apply what he has learned to the course he’s teaching this fall? Listen as they put a bow on the series – and share your own takeaways with us by email or connecting with us on LinkedIn. Resources FOCUS Blog from the Cedarville University CTL C...

How important is flexibility in the design of an active learning space? How can spaces be designed to meet student needs? Dr. Rob McDole and Jared Pyles discuss active learning space design with Dr. Jodie Penrod (CIO at Marshall University) and how it affected the design of the Brad D. Smith School of Business at Marshall University. Resources   FOCUS Blog from the Cedarville University CTL  Brave...

How can space be used to enhance creative thinking? What should be done to “future-proof” a learning space? Dr. Rob McDole and Jared Pyles chat with Jim Stevenson about the active learning space created in Columbus, Ohio, for training industrial designers. Jim Stevenson is the President and Co-Founder of the International Center for Creativity.  Resources   “Whatever It Is, I’m Against It”: Resist...

How does space play a factor in a student's learning? Where do students like to go to do coursework? In what ways are students using active learning spaces such as a university library? Join Dr. Rob McDole and Jared Pyles as they chat with two Cedarville University students about what kinds of environments are most productive for their learning. Resources FOCUS Blog from the Cedarville University...

What changes can libraries make for the benefit of students? What are the trends on library usage among higher education students? Join Dr. Rob McDole and Jared Pyles as they go local and chat with two friends—Josh Michael and Kirsten Setzkorn—from the Centennial Library at Cedarville University. Resources FOCUS Blog from the Cedarville University CTL Chat with us! Connect with us via LinkedIn . C...