As Pedagogo Season 4 comes to a close, we look back at this season’s exploration of community building and highlight themes from our conversations with higher ed leaders, DEI champions, and social activists, as well as non-profit and industry leaders. Join Dr. Divya Bheda as she reflects on this season’s topics, explores the potential for growth and nourishment in the communities we are rooted in, and provides action items to help put these ideas into practice.

Guest: Dr. Ereka WilliamsOur identities connect us to a vast webwork of community which informs our perspectives and our relationships. By minding these connections to our communities, we can create spaces for fellow community members in higher ed decision-making. Learn ways that higher ed leaders and faculty can come together to support the communities we share, and learn strategies to inculcate democratic values in higher ed to promote the shared success of every stakeholder.This episode explores:The values and beliefs within our communities that underlie ideas and solutionsWhy centering language and culture is essential to supporting our communities The importance of looking at the data that drives decision-making through a human lensCommunity-centric methods to positively impact student outcomes, in the classroom and beyond

Guest: Dr. Kate McConnellThere’s more to creating a community than bringing together individuals with a shared purpose or identity; the success of a community depends on the skills and values of those individuals who choose to build and sustain it. As educators, how can we model and teach the core abilities required to create successful communities? Learn how bringing principles of civic engagement to the classroom can positively impact student outcomes and help to instill the attitudes and dispositions that contribute to healthy communities.This episode explores:The importance of human interaction and collaboration to build and sustain communityProviding positive examples for students to build and sustain impactful communitiesTeaching tools and strategies to connect learning outcomes to civic-engagement skillsBuilding respect and trust in collaboration to reach authentic consensus in higher ed

Guest: Dr. Craig PepinThe pandemic era has led us to discover new channels of communication, which have connected us across the country and around the world. But what essential aspects of pre-pandemic community are missing in our most task-oriented virtual spaces? Learn about the opportunities and responsibilities we share, as well as the challenges and limitations we face, as members of virtual and in-person communities. See how we can drive innovation while supporting the shared mission and vision of the community.This episode explores:The role that community plays for professional organizations in higher educationPrioritizing human connection and relationship building within work communitiesThe nuances of networking and community, as well as collaboration and consensusCivility, transparency, and equity as key principles to build impactful communities

Guests: Dr. Kathleen Doll and Dr. Albertina LopezCommunity is an essential aspect of our lives. It provides a safe, welcoming space to connect with those who share our values while also challenging us to consider new perspectives. We need community to achieve our goals — both individually and as a society — and when we build our communities with intention, we can create the momentum necessary to move the needle on social change. Learn how community and collective action work together to build and sustain movements towards equity and justice — in higher education and beyond.This episode explores:The meaning and function of community in academia and social justice workThe role of community in higher education as it relates to student successBest practices to create purpose-driven communities and sustain momentumBeing intentional in building nurturing and equitable communities

Guest: Dr. John BroomeCommunication can be challenging in higher education. From institution to institution — and even within the same institution — differences in power, position, or pedigree can impede effective communication. But the pandemic era ushered in new channels of communication that have allowed those from higher ed to connect and share ideas from anywhere in the world, at any time of day, and irrespective of differences. Hear from the creator of the online group, Higher Ed Learning Collective, and learn how this space has evolved since the outset of the pandemic.This episode explores:Adapting to the needs of higher ed communities — in the pandemic era and beyondConsiderations for encouraging productive communication in online communitiesThe key role community moderators serve to promote equity and social justiceThe importance of leadership and organizational structure to sustain common goals

Guest: Dr. Annabelle GoodwinCommunity building is important to the shared success of students and faculty in online education, but it requires a different set of strategies to foster belonging and extend support than those of in-person learning. With thoughtful approaches to relationship building and inclusion, educators can bridge the gaps in distance learning and create close-knit virtual communities. Learn why intentionality is central to building community in online education and how to implement inclusivity initiatives for the greatest impact in virtual learning spaces. This episode explores:The importance of proactive relationship building to improve student outcomesPlanning interactions that strengthen personal and professional networksTips to achieve institutional initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion How to apply an inclusive excellence model across all aspects of online education

Guest: Dr. Jane IrunguColleges and universities bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds and circumstances to achieve a shared goal as an institution. The overall success of the campus community depends on the success of its stakeholders, so creating a goal-oriented community means finding effective ways to support the individual needs of students, faculty, staff, and leadership. Learn strategies for building inclusive, collaborative communities within brick-and-mortar institutions, and see how the pandemic-related challenges have presented opportunities to build stronger communities.The episode explores:The value of community for everyone in higher ed – students, faculty, staff, and leadershipChallenges to building community in traditional higher ed institutionsThe importance of mission and vision to communityTips to facilitate inclusive, collaborative learning in the classroom

The events of the past two years have underlined the importance of community. Presented with the challenges of social isolation, we sought digital spaces to connect, communicate, collaborate, and drive social change. Pedagogo Season 4 will bring you insightful conversations with higher ed leaders, DEI champions, and social activists, as well as non-profit and industry leaders, as they share diverse ideas and perspectives that center on the theme of “Community and Connections for Equity and Success.” Join Dr. Divya Bheda as she begins this season’s exploration of community building, its potential to promote equity, inclusion, and access in education and assessment, and how it can help us lead the next generation of global citizens.

In this episode, Dr. Divya Bheda recaps the highlights of this season’s seven episodes, touching on common themes. Dr. Bheda shares her own reflections, along with suggested next steps so that you can bring these big ideas into your work as an educator. Balancing the need for self-care with our drive to serve others and to continuously improve our performance and programs Empowering students by involving them in curriculum development, assessment design, and decision making Supporting students as they deal with the daily challenges that can impact their education Checking our biases as we work with an increasingly diverse student body Humanizing the academy by prioritizing people, practicing compassion, and centering relationships Reimagining education and assessment to meet 21st-century needs and challenges

As deeply committed professionals, we often see our willingness to take extraordinary measures as our badge of honor. However, constantly leaning in, striving forward, and sacrificing for others can cause stress, increase anxiety, and deplete the energy that we need to be fully present to our students, colleagues, and loved ones. Dr. Bheda interviews Libby Smith, an organizational healing facilitator, about the mindset changes and daily actions that we can adopt to take self-care as seriously as our other responsibilities. Join us to learn how you can gain time by making time for yourself.  How can “pouring ourselves into our work” be a form of unhealthy distraction? How can self-awareness help us cope with stressful times and situations? How do we draw boundaries and focus our energy? Why is self-care an ongoing process and an everyday practice? How do we stop others—and ourselves—from sabotaging our self-care? How can healing ourselves enable us to help others? How can academic and business leaders create space for self-care?

In today’s episode, Dr. Bheda interviews Dr. James Earl Orr Jr., a senior higher education administrator who currently serves on the Board of Directors for the International Center for Academic Integrity. Dr. Orr discusses the principles of restorative justice and the educational benefits that can be realized when they are applied to situations involving academic misconduct. Listen in as Dr. Bheda and Dr. Orr explore: Principles of restorative justice and benefits for higher education Detriments of one-size-fits-all sanctions Disadvantages of too-stringent and too-lenient sanctions Issues with courtroom-style academic integrity hearings Conducting restorative, learning-centered conversations with students Fostering a culture of honesty, integrity, and engaged learning Centralized implementation and facilitation of restorative practices Student involvement in policy development and peer-to-peer mediation

In today’s episode, Dr. Bheda is joined by Dr. Amber Garrison Duncan of Lumina Foundation*, which seeks to expand the share of Americans who have a post-secondary education, training, and certification. They discuss the demographic changes and workplace trends that are reducing the high-school-to-college pipeline while increasing older learners’ demand for education and training. Stream this episode to hear more about: Social mobility and emerging needs of uncredentialed adults Prior learning assessment and comprehensive learner records New pathways and partnerships for credentialing and certification Challenges in cross-institutional collaboration and coordination Alignment of competency-based learning with skills-based hiring  Opportunities for employer-informed and co-created curriculum development *This interview was recorded when Dr. Garrison Duncan was at the Lumina Foundation. She now serves as the Executive Vice President of the Competency-Based Education Network.

In competency-based education, the focus is on the mastery of knowledge and skills and the rigorous assessment of those competencies. Advancement is not based on the number of weeks in a classroom or the number of credit hours earned, but on performance-based assessments. In this episode, Dr. Bheda interviews Dr. Charla Long, the Executive Director for the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN), to explore the challenges and benefits of this big idea. Listen as we discuss: Evolution of competency-based education Differences between time-based approaches and competency-based approaches Benefits to institutions, faculty members, learners, and employers The importance of “backward design” to identify competencies and develop the learning journey that will lead to mastery The use of data analysis to personalize education and foster student attainment The Competency-Based Education Network’s quality framework and program design principles Results achieved by institutions that have implemented competency-based programs

As the student population becomes more diverse, we are increasingly aware of the need for  assessment methods that better support diverse learners. In this timely episode, Dr. Divya Bheda is joined by Dr. Gianina Baker, acting director of the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA).  Tune in for insights about: Healing-centered practices in education Principles of equity-minded assessment  Meaningful student involvement in assessment practices Interrogation and disaggregation of data to check assumptions Development of rubrics and standards-based grading  The essential role of feedback and formative assessment

At the turn of the 21st century, Art Pearl and Tony Knight published a trailblazing volume, The Democratic Classroom: Theory to Inform Practice. In this episode, two of Dr. Pearl's former students discuss his influence on their views and careers, and the potential of democratic education to empower students, foster problem solving, and build strong citizens. Join Dr. Divya Bheda and her guest, Dr. Robin Harwick, founder of The Pearl Remote Democratic School. Tune in to learn about: The principles of democratic education The mental health and social benefits of the democratic classroom The skillsets that you need to implement these principles Practical strategies and techniques to apply in your classroom, whether K-12 or higher ed Resources to learn more and network with other educators who are adopting democratic education

With the challenges posed by COVID-19, the many socio-economic issues that are impacting education, and the advent of technology as an essential element of education, managing change has become increasingly important. Join host Dr. Divya Bheda and her guest, Dr. Catherine Wehlburg, Athens State University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, as they share insights and advice for becoming an effective change agent at your institution.Learn about:understanding organizational culture, tradition, and mission to prioritize initiativesbuilding relationships across the institution to co-create changeestablishing ongoing scenario-planning conversations to anticipate changeidentifying issues that can impede changecreating psychological safety to support faculty, staff, and students while implementing change

In our final episode of the season, we talk assessment. How do we determine what students really know about what they know? Join Dr. Allison Case and guest Dr. Natasha Jankowski, Executive Director of the National Institute of Learning Outcome Assessment (NILOA) and Research Associate Professor at the College of Education at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, as they take a deep dive into establishing impactful practice in assessment. Learn about the four lenses through which assessment can be viewed to add value for both faculty and students.Show Notes and Resources:NILOA: National Institute for Learning Outcomes AssessmentNatasha talks about the Spellings Commission and their work in 2008 for standardizing measurementAAC&U : The mission of the Association of American Colleges and Universities is to advance the vitality and public standing of liberal education by making quality and equity the foundations for excellence in undergraduate education in service to democracy. TILT: Transparency in Learning and Teaching project which aims to advance equitable teaching and learning practices that reduce systemic inequities in higher education through two main activities:Promoting students' conscious understanding of how they learnEnabling faculty to gather, share and promptly benefit from current data about students' learning by coordinating their efforts across disciplines, institutions and countriesInfographic

What is enablement-minded leadership? How can programs and institutions resist the stigma attached to being promoted to leadership roles and prepare faculty for future success from day one? Join Dr. Allison Case and guest, Dr. Brian Goldstein, Chief Academic Officer and Executive Dean of the College of Rehabilitative Sciences at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, as he shares his personal story about the journey from faculty member to administrator, what he learned along the way, and how he champions identifying others to tap for leadership roles.Show Notes and Resources:Brian suggests the following books on leadership:Bolman and Deal: Reframing OrganizationsBolman & Gallos: Reframing Academic LeadershipSteven Sample: A Contrarian's Guide to LeadershipJim Collins: Good to GreatBuller: Academic LeadershipBuller: Academic Leadership Day by DayAnything by Chip and Dean Heath; e.g., Switch; UpstreamSusan Scott: Fierce Conversations; Fierce LeadershipKim Scott: Radical CandorGrawe: Demographics and the Demand for Higher Education Websites:Chronicle for Higher EducationInside Higher EducationEducation Dive

Have you ever given an assessment that was not about content? While content may still be king, it is not in the castle alone. Join Dr. Allison Case and her guest, Dr. Christina Paguyo, Director of Academic Assessment at the University of Denver, as they explore inclusive assessment—the layering of non-content based assessments on top of traditional content assessments as a way to better serve and respond to our students so they can fully engage with our class and our content.Show NotesDr. Virginia Pitts talks about having clarity about what you want students to walk away with when they leave your class five years from now, they're looking back and thinking about your class, what knowledge, what ideas, what feelings would you want to have endure? https://otl.du.edu/what-to-do-when-it-all-feels-new-teaching-at-a-social-distance/Christina referenced the writings and practices of Rachel Toor, Professor at Eastern Washington University, in using low stakes, ungraded assignments to check in on students. You can read more about her work here:  https://community.chronicle.com/news/2367-turns-out-you-can-build-community-in-a-zoom-classroomChristina referenced the book "Small Teachings Online: Applying Learning Science Online" by Flower Darby and James Lang. https://www.amazon.com/Small-Teaching-Online-Applying-Learning/dp/1119619092Additional resources:North Star reference: https://otl.du.edu/courses-opportunities/workshops/course-design-institute/Stress test: https://otl.du.edu/mitigating-increasing-inequity-as-we-move-online/For a transcript of today’s show, additional resources, or to listen to previous episodes, come visit us online at ExamSoft.com/Pedagogo.