TOPcast: The Teaching Online Podcast

Thomas Cavanagh & Kelvin Thompson

Hosted by Thomas Cavanagh and Kelvin Thompson, the Teaching Online Podcast (TOPcast) takes a fun and informative look at the various trends, best practices and technologies in the realm of online education.

Episodes

Mentioned books

Feb 17, 2020 • 0sec

Episode 57: “Do You Want a Degree with Those Fries?” Education as an Employee Benefit

About Episode 57: Tuition reimbursement programs have been around for many years. In this episode, though, join hosts Tom and Kelvin as they uncover how modern education as an employee benefit programs align with the aspirations of online higher education. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 57 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links Redeye Coffee Roasters Content Links The End Goal of Education-as-a-Benefit 1 Minute Video: Disney Aspire Cast Member Surprised With UCF Acceptance EdSurge on Air’s Two-Part Series Part 01: “Algorithms are Changing Low-Wage Work. What Educators Should Know About Life ‘On the Clock.’“ Part 02: “When College Becomes a Benefit of Employment“ UCF’s Work with Disney Aspire via Guild UCF News: “Disney, UCF Team Up to Offer Free Tuition for Cast Members“ Tom’s tweet about spending time at the Disney Aspire Expo at Walt Disney World, with photos! Background Primer on Education-as-a-Benefit 2019 “Education Benefits Survey” from International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans McKinsey Report: “The Future of Work“ Forbes: “Education As A Benefit: More Companies Support Degree Pathways“ Forbes: Guild Education Is Latest Female-Led Company To Hit $1 Billion Valuation HR Executive: “Will Education Benefits be the Next Big Trend?“ MarketWatch: “Why Walmart, Disney and so many other companies are paying for their employees’ college education“ The Century Foundation: “Starbucks, Walmart, and Amazon Offer ‘Free’ College—but Read the Fine Print“ Inside Higher Ed : Good and Bad News About Employer Funding of Online Degrees Education-as-a-Benefit Companies Guild Education: Education as a Benefit InStride Pearson Accelerated Pathways

Dec 2, 2019 • 0sec

Episode 56: “The Last Mile:” Getting STEM Online

About Episode 56: Many of us in online education have struggled to implement online course design in STEM disciplines. In this episode, hosts Thomas Cavanagh and Kelvin Thompson discuss reasons for this disconnect and how we might work together to innovate and cross the chasm to benefit students. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 56 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links Yaupon Brothers Lavender Coconut Tea Yaupon Brothers American Tea Company Interview with Yaupon Brothers Co-Founder Bryon White Content Links Lightboard Video Examples from UCF’s Office of Instructional Resources (OIR) Oregon State University’s “Online Learning Efficacy Research Database” Summary of Longitudinal Findings from UCF’s Research Initiative for Teaching Effectiveness (RITE) TOPcast Episode #35: Blending Our Way to “A Whole New Level of Student Success”

Nov 4, 2019 • 0sec

Episode 55: A Journey from Faculty Member to Digital Learning Leader

About Episode 55: In this episode, Tom and Kelvin are joined by Dr. Susan Wegmann as she shares her experience of transitioning from teaching online to leading digital learning for an entire institution. Listeners are encouraged to reflect upon the lessons learned from their own journeys. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 55 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links “Taste of Austin” coffee blend from HEB’s “Cafe Ole” brand Content Links Dr. Susan Wegmann’s Bio (TOPR) “High Impact Practices in Online Education: Research and Best Practices” TOPcast Episode #53: “A ‘Sobering’ Conversation About Diversity Among Leaders of Online Learning” TOPcast Episode #52: “Higher Ed’s ‘Third Wave of Digital Leaders’” TOPcast Episode #49: “‘You’re Making Me Crazy!’ How to Improve Online Education”

Oct 7, 2019 • 28min

Episode 54: “Keep It Simple Starting” with Design and Teaching

About Episode 54: In this episode, TOPcast hosts Kelvin and Tom talk through how “starting simply”, with the essentials, in online design/teaching and then iterating over time will make for a more successful experience for all concerned. These principles hold for other kinds of digital learning implementations. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 54 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links “Red Eyes Blend” from Huckleberry Roasters Huckleberry Roasters, Denver, CO Content Links Note: Each resource below contains individual ways to Keep It Simple Starting. Do not try them all at once. Good Practices Teaching Online Pedagogical Repository (TOPR) – An online compendium of online and blended teaching practices. Hosted by UCF but open to all for contributions. Creative Commons-licensed. Online Learning Consortium’s Effective Practices DIY Design Tasks for Blended Courses Tools/Technologies “5 Terrific Edtech Tools for Creating a Highly Engaging Online (or Hybrid) Course” (from eCampus News) EduAppCenter (Open standard-based integrations for your learning management system) Other Strategies “Ten Steps Toward Universal Design of Online Courses” (from University of Arkansas, Little Rock) “How to Create a Mobile-First Online Course” (from LearnDash)

Sep 3, 2019 • 27min

Episode 53: A “Sobering” Conversation About Diversity Among Leaders of Online Learning

About Episode 53: Returning guest Dr. Liz Ciabocchi joins hosts Kelvin and Tom to consider the current state of diversity and inclusivity within the ranks of online learning leaders. While a sobering conversation to be sure, this episode is filled with data and optimism. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the 2019 OLC IELOL Immersion Experience. Podcast Recording Download episode transcript: [PDF] Bonus Content Your browser does not support the audio element. Download bonus content transcript: [PDF] Guest Dr. Liz Ciabocchi joins hosts Kelvin (l) and Tom (r) for TOPcast Live During IELOL 2019 Episode 53 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links “Rainbow Roast” Blend from Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters Content Links Dr. Liz Ciabocchi’s Bio OLC’s IELOL Program “Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education: A Status Report” Survey Report: “Administrators in Higher Education” TOPcast Episode #09: “Telling Disruptive Stories: Women as Leaders in Online Education” with Liz Ciabocchi TOPcast Episode #22: “Better Together: Diversity in Online Education” TOPcast Episode #36: “Finding Online Learning Leaders: ‘Fredericksen’s List’” Topical Follow-up Resources Curated By Dr. Ciabocchi Online Magazine: “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education” Blog Posts Tagged “Diversity and Inclusion” from the “Higher Education Today” blog of the American Council on Education (ACE) Campus Diversity and Inclusion Articles from the “American Council on Education” (ACE) Website Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence Resources from the “Association for American Colleges & Universities” (AAC&U) Website

Aug 5, 2019 • 0sec

Episode 52: Higher Ed’s “Third Wave of Digital Leaders”

About Episode 52: In this episode, Tom and Kelvin are joined by Dr. Casey Green who shares his decades long observations about the evolving nature of leadership in higher ed’s technology-mediated teaching and learning initiatives. A key theme is the sustainability of our digital learning efforts. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 52 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links Ethiopia Tafachi The West Bean Coffee Roasters (featured in this episode) Content Links Dr. Casey Green’s Bio Casey’s “Digital Tweed” Blog EDUCAUSE Review Article: “Exploring the CAO Role in Digital Learning” “Provosts, Pedagogy and Digital Learning: The Fall 2017 ACAO Survey of Provosts and Chief Academic Officers” In The Chronicle: “The Path to Change Runs Through the Provost’s Office” Book: Boyer’s Scholarship Reconsidered In The Chronicle: “The Digital Era” (50-year photostory retrospective of tech in higher ed) TOPcast Episode #32: “Provosts, Pedagogy, and Digital Learning” with Casey Green The Digital Tweed Blog: “Provosts as Digital Leaders”

Jul 1, 2019 • 31min

Episode 51: How Can We Make Textbooks More Affordable for Students?

About Episode 51: Textbook affordability is important to students, parents, policymakers, and online education professionals. Reducing the functional cost to students of course materials is a complex challenge. In this episode, hosts Tom and Kelvin discuss one multifaceted strategy for meeting this challenge. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: [PDF] Episode 51 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links The Beginner’s Guide to Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee (featured in this episode) Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Buying Guide & Review Content Links UCF’s Affordable Instructional Materials Initiative FIU’s “Affordability Counts” Initiative Indiana University’s “Affordability @ IU” Initiative Florida Virtual Campus: Summaries of Student Textbook Surveys Florida Statute 1004.085: “Textbook and Instructional Materials Affordability“ TOPcast episode # 11: “Getting to the Goal of Going Textbook Free“ TOPcast episode #21: “Accessibility: It’s a Journey, Not a Destination“

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