TOPcast: The Teaching Online Podcast

In this episode, hosts Kelvin and Tom consider the role of asynchronous discussions in online education and discuss how technology platforms/tools might provide some enhancement.

Guest Dr. Stephen C. Ehrmann joins hosts Tom and Kelvin to discuss lessons learned from studying six exemplar higher ed institutions that have achieved “3fold gains” by improving educational quality, access, and affordability.

Hi this is Kelvin for TOPcast. As an accompaniment to episode 116, Tom and I would like to offer to everyone a brief bonus clip with Dr. Stephen C. Ehrmann from late 2021 in which Steve reflects on the impact of the famous article he co-wrote in 1996 with Arthur Chickering (The title of that article, if you are not familiar, is: “Implementing the Seven Principles: Technology as Lever” ) and in this clip, Steve shares a couple of delightful anecdotes surrounding the writing of the influential article. Download Transcript: PDF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GhWjoMc9iE

As a companion piece to episode 113 on “onlineness,” in this episode hosts Tom and Kelvin discuss the related concept of “blendedness” - the deliberate design of a unified in-person + online experience in ways that benefit students directly.

NPR education correspondent Anya Kamenetz joins hosts Kelvin and Tom to pause for a holistic check-in evaluation of the on-going impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on online higher education.

In this Season 8 opener, Tom and Kelvin share sample student profiles illustrating the varied needs of students enrolling in online courses, and they call for a strategy of integrated data to better inform such profiles.

Guests Russ Poulin and Cheryl Dowd join hosts Kelvin and Tom to bring some breaking news on governmental regulation that could change the way online higher education works in the US. Listen carefully and share with institutional colleagues to avoid unpleasant surprises.

In this episode Tom and Kelvin unpack what it means for online courses to be “online” and why it matters to students if instructional designers or instructors make decisions that negatively impact this “onlineness.”

Guest Kerlene King joins hosts Tom and Kelvin to discuss what it takes for the learning management system (LMS) to be used strategically at institutions of higher education.

Reports continue of individuals leaving the field of online higher education as part of the Great Resignation (or Reshuffling). In this episode, hosts Kelvin and Tom discuss how to make our online learning teams positive environments where people find purpose and pursue vision as we carry out this meaningful work.