D2L's Teach & Learn

In this episode of Teach & Learn, Dr. Cristi Ford sits down with Dr. Sean McMinn, Director of the Center of Education Innovation at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Dr. McMinn shares his insights on the importance of metacognitive awareness in an AI-driven society and provides practical strategies for educators to teach these concepts effectively. Viewers will learn about the role of AI as a copilot in the learni...

In today’s episode of Teach & Learn, Dr. Cristi Ford sits down with Nathifa Forde, executive director of NYC Her Future, to learn about the various initiatives she’s working on that are aimed at advancing education, workforce development and safety for young women in New York City.

They discuss:

• Nathifa’s journey and the mission of NYC Her Future 
• NYC Her Future’s partnership and collaboration with NYC Public Schools 
• Dispariti...

As AI continues to transform the educational landscape, understanding its impact is crucial for educators.

In today's episode, Dr. Cristi Ford welcomes Dr. Angela Gunder, founder and CEO of Opened Culture (OEC), to discuss the multifaceted concept of AI literacies. Dr. Gunder explains the importance of understanding AI beyond its technical aspects, emphasizing the need for educators to grasp how AI influences collabor...

In this episode, Dr. Emma Zone sits down with Emmy-Nominated edutainment creator Jerry Kolber to talk about making learning fun. Kolber’s work in television and podcasting focuses on blending education with entertainment. This concept, known as edutainment, presents subjects like math and science in more engaging, fun ways. Through storytelling, wacky characters and imaginative scenarios, Kolber’s creations are helping to capture a...

In this episode, Dr. Cristi Ford and special guest  Dr. Amber Garrison Duncan, executive vice president and COO at the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN) dive into the skills-forward world of competency-based education (CBE). Together, they explore how this modern approach to learning is revolutionizing education by focusing on skills and competencies delivered at a flexible pace. Dr. Garrison Duncan shares insights on the ...

Figuring out how to use generative AI responsibly at one university campus is challenging enough – what happens when you’re tasked with doing it across 64 of them? 

In today’s podcast episode, Dr. Cristi Ford chats with Kim Scalzo, Interim Senior Associate Provost for Digital Innovation and Academic Services at the State University of New York (SUNY). SUNY is in the process of integrating generative AI across all 64 of its campus lo...

According to a U.S. News + Generation Lab report, 70% of college students have struggled with mental health since starting college. Despite expressing a need for care, only 37% of survey respondents searched for mental health resources. These findings align with a recent D2L-sponsored Tyton Partners report, which found that only 50% of students are aware of key on-campus services like academic and career advising, financial aid, an...

If "all the world's a stage," as Shakespeare believed, then hope should be cast as the lead, argues Dr. Jessica Riddell of Hope Circuits Institute. Riddell contends that hope can transform higher education into spaces where humans can truly flourish. Drawing inspiration from the theater, she introduces a novel approach to integrating hope into systems that are beloved, resilient and broken. 

Join Dr. Riddell and host ...

When the goal is a university degree or diploma from a private institution, learners can bank on a long road ahead. In some cases, the path traveled is straightforward; in other cases, it’s winding with more than a few detours, U-turns and full stops. While different, what these pathways have in common, is the destination. 

But, what about low-income learners or those from under-served communities who are less likely to consider pur...

There aren’t many people who’d voluntarily pursue a career in a field they grew up disliking. But that’s exactly what Mike Yates did. Now a Senior Designer at the Reinvention Lab at Teach for America, where he leads AI initiatives, Mike joined Dr. Cristi Ford to chat about his experiences growing up as the child of an educator, why he’s so passionate about using technology to improve teaching and learning and why he believes all ed...

We are living in an increasingly digital world where nearly everything we do generates data. This information can be used to come to profound and impactful decisions that create tremendous benefits—but only if we can interpret, understand and put the insights to use.  

The trouble is that although many of us are data-aware, we're far from data-literate. And for the data-driven world of today, and the data-saturated world of the...

As the debate over whether a post-secondary degree is worth it rages on, higher ed institutions are seeking solutions that can help them attract and retain new students. Enter data-driven decision making. When done properly, a well-executed data and analytics strategy can positively impact both student and institutional success. Universities and colleges that can properly harness and analyze their data to gain insights into the nee...

What if you were asked to incorporate climate action into your existing curriculum? Would you respond with: “I’m not a climate scientist,” and follow up with “what does climate have to do with what I teach?” It may sound odd, but whether you teach calculus, drama, or beginner Spanish, our podcast guest says ALL courses are climate courses—period.  

Many of us experience feelings of anxiety or hopelessness when we hear the words &quo...

This is how a typical work life unfolds: we get an education, then a job and after 40 years or so at that job, we retire. But experts say, that won’t work in the future. (Pardon the pun). 

People are living longer, healthier lives. Now, before you start planning an extra, extra-long retirement, consider that the longer you live, the longer you’ll need to stay in the workforce. And the more important life-long learning will become. P...

Student identity is crucial in K-12 public schools, but it’s not always given the attention it deserves. When students feel a sense of belonging and see their identities reflected in the spaces and curriculum around them, they thrive. This can have positive trickle-down effects on well-being and academic engagement. 

In this episode of the Teach & Learn podcast, Dr. Emma Zone talks to Sharonda Willingham, Principal at Seattle’s ...

We have a collective responsibility and an obligation to work toward making education equitable for all learners period. Wouldn’t this world be a better place if anyone who desires to learn, regardless of gender, religion, race, location, socioeconomics, and the like, could access high-quality education? Of course. What if the words ‘opportunity’ and ‘divide’ never had to be paired together? We’d all be better for it.

Whi...

Counter to the old adage, the US Department of Education is looking to fix something that many argue ain't broke... 

Right now, distance education is being reviewed and new regulations are being considered in the name of consumer protection. 

It's believed that the US Department of Education is operating under the misconception that distance education is somehow less than traditional in-person educa...

It's nearly time to roll out the red carpet!

The STLHE Awards are fast approaching, and the D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning Co-Chairs couldn't be more excited.  Dr. Aleksandra Zecevic and Dr. Jovan Groen sat down with Dr. Cristi Ford to discuss the highly anticipated annual event and of course, the awards!

As our Canadian listeners know, the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Educ...

As educators, we know that knowledge is power. Nowhere is this more evident than in underserved and displaced populations. According to the United Nations, nearly half of all refugee children are not attending school. Thankfully, there are initiatives and individuals doing the work to help increase access to education for refugee populations.

In this episode of the Teach & Learn podcast, Dr. Cristi Ford talks to Dr. Lesley Snowb...