Episodes
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Beware the Myth
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
One of the most persistent neuromyths is the belief that students learn more when instruction is tailored to their specific learning style. In this episode, Shaylene Nancekivell and Xin Sun join us to discuss their research on possible negative consequences of the learning styles myth.
Shaylene is an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Manitoba. Xin is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. Shaylene and Xin are co-authors of a study entitled “Beware the myth: learning styles affect parents', children's, and teachers' thinking about children's academic potential,” published in the NPJ Science of Learning journal this fall.
A transcript of this episode and show notes may be found at http://teaforteaching.com.
Wednesday Nov 01, 2023
Supporting Neurodiverse Students and Faculty
Wednesday Nov 01, 2023
Wednesday Nov 01, 2023
Many discussions of inclusive teaching practices ignore the role of neurodiversity in higher ed. In this episode, Liz Norell joins us to discuss strategies that faculty and institutions can use to create a welcoming environment for neurodivergent students and faculty. Liz is a political scientist and the Associate Director of Instructional Support at the University of Mississippi's Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
A transcript of this episode and show notes may be found at http://teaforteaching.com.
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
Community Effects of Incarceration
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
Some students receive substantial support on their educational journey within their homes, communities, and schools; others face substantial barriers. In this episode, Arpit Gupta joins us to discuss his recent study that examines the effect of community incarceration rates on the academic performance of children in affected households and on their classmates.
Arpit is an Associate Professor of Finance at the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at NYU. Arpit has published extensively in highly ranked finance, economics, science, law, and management journals on topics ranging from housing markets, infrastructure investment, bail, local journalism, racial housing gaps, incarceration, and remote work.
A transcript of this episode and show notes may be found at http://teaforteaching.com.
Wednesday May 24, 2023
Transparency in Learning and Teaching
Wednesday May 24, 2023
Wednesday May 24, 2023
While instructors know what they expect from students, these expectations are not always clear to their students. In this episode, Mary-Ann Winkelmes joins us to discuss what happens when instructors make their expectations transparent to their students. Mary-Ann has served in leadership roles at campus teaching centers at Harvard, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois, the University of Nevada - Las Vegas, and Brandeis University and is the Founder and Director of TILTHigherEd.
A transcript of this episode and show notes may be found at http://teaforteaching.com.
Wednesday Apr 05, 2023
Neurodiverse Hiring Initiative
Wednesday Apr 05, 2023
Wednesday Apr 05, 2023
Neurodiverse students often struggle to get co-ops, internships, and their first job because they face significant social barriers during the process of securing such opportunities. In this episode, Kendra Evans joins us to discuss a program at the Rochester Institute of Technology that helps this population of students build the skills needed to navigate the hidden rules of interviewing and supports them through their internship experiences.
Kendra is the Coordinator of the Neurodiverse Hiring Initiative (or NHI) at the Rochester Institute of Technology [RIT]. NHI facilitates myriad programs that build the confidence and job readiness skills of autistic job seekers, provides guidance and support to employers, and creates unique opportunities connecting hiring managers with RIT's highly-skilled neurodiverse applicant pool. Kendra is pursuing her MBA to better make the business case for neurodiverse affirming workplaces.
A transcript of this episode and show notes may be found at http://teaforteaching.com.
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
Mind Over Monsters
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
During the last few years, college students have been reporting mental health concerns at unprecedented levels, straining the resources provided by college and university counseling centers. In this episode, Sarah Rose Cavanagh joins us to discuss the role that faculty can play in addressing these concerns.
Sarah is a psychologist, professor and Senior Associate Director for Teaching and Learning at Simmons University. She is the author of The Spark of Learning: Energizing the College Classroom with the Science of Emotion and Hivemind: Thinking Alike in a Divided World as well as numerous academic articles and essays in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Lit Hub, Inside Higher Ed, and Vice. Her most recent book, Mind Over Monsters: Supporting Youth Mental Health with Compassionate Challenge will be released in spring 2023.
A transcript of this episode and show notes may be found at http://teaforteaching.com.
Wednesday Dec 14, 2022
Fumble Forward
Wednesday Dec 14, 2022
Wednesday Dec 14, 2022
Preconceptions and biases often interfere with productive discussions and interpersonal interactions. In this episode, Donna Mejia joins us to discuss strategies that she has developed to address these preconceptions and to humanize classroom interactions. Donna is the Chancellor’s Scholar in Residence at the Renee Crown Wellness Institute and an Associate Professor of Theatre and Dance at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She is the author of a chapter in Picture a Professor, edited by Jessamyn Neuhaus.
A transcript of this episode and show notes may be found at http://teaforteaching.com.
Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
The New College Classroom
Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
Despite all that we have learned from cognitive science about how people learn, the most common form of classroom instruction still involves students passively listening to a lecturer standing at a podium at the front of the room. In this episode, Cathy Davidson and Christina Katopodis join us to discuss alternative approaches that treat student diversity as an asset and allow all students to be actively engaged in their own learning.
Cathy is a Distinguished Professor at the CUNY Graduate Center, the author of more than twenty books, and a regular contributor to the Washington Post and the Chronicle of Higher Education. She has served on the National Council of Humanities and delivered a keynote address at the Nobel Forum on the Future of Education. Christina is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Transformative Learning in the Humanities Initiative at CUNY and has authored over a dozen articles on innovative pedagogy, innovative pedagogy, environmental studies, and Early American Literature. She has received the Dewey Digital Teaching Award and the Diana Colbert Initiative Teaching Prize.
A transcript of this episode and show notes may be found at http://teaforteaching.com.
Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
Collaborative Rubric Construction
Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
Students may not immediately trust faculty who they perceive as being different from themselves. In this episode, Dr. Fen Kennedy joins us to discuss how collaborative rubric construction can be used as a strategy for building and maintaining trust. Fen is an assistant professor of dance at the University of Alabama and the author of a chapter in Picture a Professor, edited by Jessamyn Neuhaus.
A transcript of this episode and show notes may be found at http://teaforteaching.com.
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Social Justice Assessments
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Traditional methods of assessing student learning favor those students that reside in well-resourced school districts while leaving low-income students at a substantial disadvantage. These grading systems also encourage students to focus on their grades rather than on their learning. In this episode, Judith Littlejohn, Meghanne Freivald, and Katelyn Prager join us to discuss a variety of social justice assessment techniques that can help to create a more equitable environment in which all students can be successful.
Judie is the Director of Online Learning at SUNY Genesee Community College, Meghanne is an Instructional Technology Specialist at Alfred University, and Katelyn is an Assistant Professor in the English Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Judie, Meghan, and Katelyn worked together on a SUNY Faculty Advisory Council on Teaching and Technology committee on social justice assessments.
A transcript of this episode and show notes may be found at http://teaforteaching.com.