TOPcast: The Teaching Online Podcast

About Episode 79: With a touch of holiday fun and whimsy, hosts Tom and Kelvin are joined by a panel of past guests and a live audience of regular listeners to celebrate the end of 2020 and reflect upon its lasting impact on the field of online education. Enjoy this holiday gift to our community, and please consider sharing a link with your colleagues. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 79 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Guests, listeners, and hosts during 2020 TOPcast & Friends Holiday Special Past TOPcast Episodes Featuring Holiday Special Guests Dr. Bonni Stachowiak:  #27 “Humanizing Online Learning” Dr. Kelvin Bentley: #60 “Growing [As] Leaders in Our Online Learning Field” Dr. Deb Miller: #50 “Conveying Online Quality: One Way to Better Inform Stakeholders” Dr. Susan Wegmann: #55 “A Journey from Faculty Member to Digital Learning Leader” Dr. Shubha Kashyap: #74 “‘Connecting the Dots:’ Lessons for Leadership” Resources Recommended By Guests The Teaching in Higher Ed Podcast  “Faculty Success” professional development curriculum (from Six Red Marbles) “Faculty Playbook” for those new to online during COVID (from Online Learning Consortium) “Faculty Resources for Online & Hybrid Teaching” (from University of Michigan’s College of Engineering) Book: Small Teaching Online (by Flower Darby with James Lang) Just for Fun Pop Culture Links “Star Wars Holiday Special” (1978. You’re welcome.) “Vintage TV Christmas Specials” on YouTube (Warning: Not exactly diverse) December Holidays Around the World: Google Doodle Maytag Repairman Commercial Carol Burnett: Carol’s Song (“I’m So Glad We Had this Time Together”) Extra Special Feature https://youtu.be/mDPCnPJCEz4 Video Version of This Episode! (Includes “socially distanced” recording by Tom and Kelvin)

About Episode 78: Calbright College President and CEO Ajita Menon re-joins hosts Tom and Kelvin to discuss the lessons learned from leading a “start-up” public college. This is the second of two interviews with President Menon. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 78 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links “S’Morey Time” Coffee from Bones Coffee Company Bones Coffee Company Content Links Ajita Menon’s Online Bio The Calbright Model In Diverse Education: “Why California’s First Online Community College Faces a State Audit” In San Francisco Chronicle: “California’s online-only community college is flunking out with legislators” In EdSource: “Calbright College survives in new California state budget agreement” Presidential Reframing Communication: “Calbright College Milestone Report” (August 2020) Just for Fun Pop Culture Reference History of S’Mores Extra Special Feature Video Version of This Episode! (Includes “socially distanced” recording by Tom and Kelvin)

About Episode 77: Tom and Kelvin consider the strategic role blended learning can have during the pandemic as higher ed institutions begin planning for their eventual return to f2f instruction. This episode is the eighth in a mini-series of monthly “field reports” offering collegial advice in getting through the current era of “remote teaching” necessitated by COVID-19. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 77 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links Oktoberfest Blend from MadCap Coffee in Grand Rapids, MI About MadCap Coffee Content Links Blended Learning Toolkit The BlendKit Course Materials (Design docs for building better blended courses) UCF Course Modality Definitions (including “mixed-mode” (M) for blended) [On Multimodal] “Academic digital literacy – A journey we all need to take” (in University World News) In EDUCAUSE Review “Bichronous Online Learning: Blending Asynchronous and Synchronous Online Learning” TOPcast Episode 71: “Finding Flexibility for F2F This Fall: The BlendFlex Approach” Past TOPcast Episodes Addressing “Blended Learning” Extra Special Feature Video Version of This Episode! (Includes “socially distanced” recording by Tom and Kelvin)

Q&A Bonus Session between IELOL participants, guest Dr. Shubha Kashyap, and hosts Tom and Kelvin. Audio-Only Bonus Content Watch the Video https://youtu.be/Lh64EznbVZk

About Episode 76: Calbright College President and CEO Ajita Menon joins hosts Tom and Kelvin to discuss the Calbright Model and to consider the place of innovative models in our collective work within online higher education. This is the first of two interviews with President Menon. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 76 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links Ethiopia Suke Quto from Panther Coffee in Miami, FL Content Links Ajita Menon’s Online Bio The Calbright Model Phil Hill on Calbright: “Calbright College: There’s a reason so few survive the Essentials course” on the Phil On EdTech Blog Solutions for Higher Education Podcast: Episode #92 “Innovation in Higher Education: Lessons Learned – Introduction” Previous TOPcast Episodes Featuring Single-Origin Coffees from Ethiopia Extra Special Feature Video Version of This Episode! (Includes “socially distanced” recording by Tom and Kelvin)

About Episode 75: Hosts Tom and Kelvin discuss principles for effective planning of spring 2021’s continued reliance on the work of online learning professionals. This episode is the seventh in a mini-series of monthly “field reports” offering collegial advice in getting through the current era of “remote teaching” necessitated by COVID-19. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 75 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links Honduras Santa Barbara Finca Las Brisas Denis Teruel from Victrola Coffee Roasters Content Links Dr. Anthony Fauci: “…I’m not predicting.” From Business Insider: “We won’t have enough COVID-19 vaccine for everybody until 2024, warns world’s largest vaccine producer” From EdSource: “CSU Chancellor announces 23 campuses to remain virtual for spring term” From Inside Higher Ed: “Approaches to January“ In Georgia State Signal: “Students protest reopening USG campuses by hosting a die-in” Plans vs. Planning on “Quote Investigator” Pandemic Campus Diaries on the EdSurge on Air Podcast (Hosted by Jeff Young) Just for Fun Pop Culture Links Ed Grimley (Portrayed by Martin Short) JK Simmons Interview on Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast Dana Carvey (Born in Montana, Raised in California) Extra Special Feature Video Version of This Episode! (Includes “socially distanced” recording by Tom and Kelvin)

About Episode 74: Guest Dr. Shubha Kashyap joins hosts Tom and Kelvin to share some of her leadership lessons learned with an explicit emphasis on the importance of openness to learning and the value of mentoring and coaching. This episode was recorded as part of the curriculum for the 2020 OLC IELOL Immersion Experience. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 74 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links Biggby Best from Biggby Coffee, East Lansing, Michigan “A ‘People Company‘ operating as a ‘Coffee Company'” Content Links Dr. Shubha Kashyap’s Online Profile Nexus at University of Michigan’s College of Engineering Executive Coaching from the Rubi Ho Group “Mentoring Map” from National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity In EDUCAUSE Review: “10 Quick Ideas for Becoming a More Effective Mentee” 2020 IELOL Participants Q&A Session – Bonus Content TOPcast Mug TOPcast on Zazzle – Get a TOPcast mug like the one Tom references in this episode. (Pro Tip: Wait until a 40%-50% discount comes along. Follow TOPcast on Twitter for discount alerts: @topcastnow) Extra Special Feature Video Version of This Episode! (Includes “socially distanced” recording by Tom and Kelvin)

About Episode 73: Stakeholder communications are especially important during a crisis. What do you do when communications are misinterpreted? Hosts Kelvin and Tom talk through COVID-era communication strategies. This episode is the sixth in a mini-series of monthly “field reports” offering collegial advice in getting through the current era of “remote teaching” necessitated by COVID-19. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 73 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links Spirit-Infused (Bourbon) Coffee from Fire Department Coffee Fire Department Coffee (Rockford, Illinois) Content Links From Pew Charitable Trusts: “College Students Want Their Money Back. It’ll Be Tough to Get It.” From Expert Institute: “More Than 70 Universities Sued for Refunds Following COVID-19 Campus Closures” In Inside Higher Ed: “August Wave of Campus Reopening Reversals” Communication Examples from UCF “Distance Learning” Webpage about Quality Online Learning at UCF Modalities Video: “Types of Courses at UCF” Tom’s “Distance Learning” 5 minute Q&A YouTube video Video: Student Virtual Forum on Fall 2020 (Cued to Online Cost Question) Student-produced Video from UCF Honors Students: “Important Things and Stuff: Class Modalities” Steven Crawford’s Tweet on the Agricultural Basis of Alcohol TOPcast Episode #1: “What is Online Learning? Definitions, Boundary Objects, and Baggage” TOPcast Episode #67: “Field Report 03: Carrying Out a ‘More Online Every Semester’ Strategy” TOPcast Episode #71: “Field Report 05: Finding Flexibility for F2F This Fall: The BlendFlex Approach” UCF Job Postings (Mentioned in this Episode) Director of Instructional Design Full-Time Faculty Instructional Designers (Will post direct link soon. Search for “instructional designer”) Just for Fun Pop Culture Links Mailbag Clip from “Miracle on 34th Street” Extra Special Feature Video Version of This Episode! (Includes “socially distanced” recording by Tom and Kelvin)

About Episode 72: In this episode, special guest Dr. Richard Zraick joins Tom and Kelvin to discuss how teaching faculty can care for their voices despite inordinate vocal use online and f2f during the COVID-19 era. Great episode for sharing with teaching faculty colleagues who aren’t regular listeners! Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 72 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links Kenyan Kirinyaga Kii from Novo Coffee in Denver, CO via Trade Coffee Novo Coffee Content Links Dr. Richard Zraick’s Online Bio “How to Hydrate Your Voice So It Stays Healthier Longer” “Exercises to Warm up your Voice before a Speech” “Voice Care for Teachers” From Baylor College of Medicine: “Vocal Health Tips for Teachers” “How to Stop Losing Your Voice as a Teacher” from Teach Starter UCF Communication Disorders Clinic at the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Health Professions and Sciences TOPcast Episode 71: “Finding Flexibility for F2F This Fall: The BlendFlex Approach” Extra Special Feature Video Version of This Episode! (Includes “socially distanced” recording by Tom and Kelvin)

About Episode 71: Many institutions will be offering at least some f2f instruction this fall. Kelvin and Tom talk through the details of one flexible approach for making fall f2f less disruptable: BlendFlex. This episode is the fifth in a mini-series of monthly “field reports” offering collegial advice in getting through the current era of “remote teaching” necessitated by COVID-19. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 71 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links Frequency Blend from Intelligentsia Coffee Content Links In Inside HigherEd: “Introducing a New(-ish) Learning Mode: Blendflex/Hyflex” From EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative: [Updated] “7 Things You Should Know About the HyFlex Course Model” Free eText by Dr. Brian J. Beatty: “Hybrid-Flexible Course Design: Implementing Student-Directed Hybrid Classes” UCF BlendFlex Resources “What Faculty Need to Know About the BlendFlex Model” Video: BlendFlex for Faculty “What Students Need to Know About the BlendFlex Model” Video: BlendFlex for Students Student-produced video from UCF honors students: “Important Things and Stuff: Class Modalities” Just for Fun Separated at Birth? Mirror Universe? Other TOPcast Podcasts TOPcast: This Old Pinball Podcast The TopCast – The Official Music Teachers’ Podcast Topcast (A Spanish language weekly podcast about pop music news) Extra Special Feature Video Version of This Episode! (Includes “socially distanced” recording by Tom and Kelvin)