DigitalEDU Dialogues

In this episode of our podcast, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Professor Heather Tidwell from Harrisburg University. Join us as we dive into a lively discussion about Professor Tidwell's innovative and engaging teaching methods, with a focus on her unique approach to incorporating personal experiences to promote mental health awareness among students. Whether you're an educator, a student, or simply passionate about mental health advocacy, this conversation is sure to inspire and enlighten. Tune in to gain valuable insights and strategies for creating a supportive and nurturing learning environment.

You're living your dream as a professor teaching at multiple schools. Balancing multiple schedules, due dates, assignments, and students worldwide can be challenging. Dorothy Miraglia knows it's possible to thrive in this environment with the right strategies. She's the Vice President of Academics and Professor Services and has experienced this firsthand! In this episode, she shares valuable tips to help you stay organized and prevent burnout.

Cesar Santalo blends creativity, play, and servant leadership at Lynn University. What makes this school so successful? Santalo talks about Lynn's culture of fun, cross-department collaboration, partnering with regional organizations, and keeping students the stars of the show. Learn more about how Santalo and Lynn's leadership team are getting students job-ready with this creative approach. https://www.lynn.edu/campus-directory/people/cesar-santalo https://www.thebabbgroup.com/

The demand for online learning continues to grow in higher education. The Babb Group's Sheila Fry joins the podcast to talk about this trend and more insights from the CHLOE 9 report. Hear how some colleges and universities are finding success by investing in online learning, creating quality online interactions with students, and empowering faculty for online success. https://www.thebabbgroup.com/

Julianne Westbrook maps out the 9-step process her small teams uses to tackle 20-30 projects at a time with creativity, responsiveness, and accuracy. Julianne combines experience in higher education, people management, human resources, and corporate training to create successful onboarding and compliance programs.

First year experiences are integral to student retention. Dr. Sheri Hutchison shares best practices for schools, administrators, and faculty to create holistic and practical programs for students as they adjust to college. Hutchinson talks about building community, coordination between departments, using technology, and making just in time resources available. https://www.thebabbgroup.com/ https://youtu.be/kkRf6ZGMMYA

Before you teach your first college course, you'll most likely need to pass a faculty training. Dorothy Miraglia, VP of Professor Services leads faculty trainings at several universities and has advice for faculty who are new to a school. It's essential to take these trainings seriously so you can get scheduled for courses and to look at them as professional development opportunities. Hear more from our expert faculty trainer! https://www.professorservices.com/

Virtual reality is for more than gaming. VR is quickly gaining ground as a tool for exploring and experiencing careers and workforce development. Brad Benedict shares how we can incorporate experiential learning with VR into classrooms, recruiting, job exploration, and training. He also talks about his personal career journey that informs his passion for workforce development and helping people find the best education and career paths for them. https://transfrinc.com/ https://www.thebabbgroup.com/

Our academic partners are talking about migrating to new learning management systems, launching new programs, accessibility, enrollment, and retention. Babb Group COO Sheila Fry joins the podcast to talk about what's trending as she talks to higher education decision-makers around the country. Discover how revised courses and online expansion are key to student success and retention, and learn about the essential skills for workforce development. Plus, learn about a new program to empower people on their PhD journey. https://www.thebabbgroup.com/ https://www.professorservices.com/product-category/dissertation-services

Mark Grant has wise advice if you're trying to break into teaching at a college level. He's successfully transferred his work experience to the classroom. Mark shares his tips for contacting deans to get his first job, transitioning from on-campus to online teaching, and how he connects with students. https://www.professorservices.com/

Stuck at ABD? We hear this from so many people trying to finish their dissertations. Karisa King has been there, too. Now, she's a Dissertation Coach and Strategist with Professor Services, helping others get from ABD to PhD. Hear how an accountability partner is essential during the dissertation journey to help with academics, time management, and motivation and to support the whole person in completing this milestone.

"Creative Conversations" are the key to successful partnerships at Central Penn College's Workforce Excellence program. Director of College Relations Curtis Voelker talks about how the college listens and collaborates with organizations to develop programs to upskill and empower employees. Curtis shares how collaborating to meet the needs of their partners is leading to success. https://www.centralpenn.edu/workforce-excellence/ https://www.thebabbgroup.com/

HBCU Spelman College launched eSpelman in the fall of 2022 with 49 learners and 3 certificates. By the end of 2023, they had over 400 students in 7 certificate programs, with 2 more in the works. Students keep coming back for more! Tiffany Watson talks about Spelman's secret sauce and how it's infused into online certificate programs. Hear how Spelman thoughtfully planned the program to support scholarships for their traditional undergraduates. And how eSpelman serves learners with upskilling, workforce development, confidence building, and empowerment. https://www.spelman.edu/espelman/overview https://www.thebabbgroup.com/

Charles Palmer is getting creative with AI. He's using ChatGPT to collaborate on a course on generative AI with students. Charles shares how he is using ChatGPT in course development, with rubrics, to create assets and to analyze his course plans. Charles is creative and innovative and gives us permission to try AI at our comfort levels while preparing our students for their future careers.Follow Charles on LinkedIn for updates on his experiences with his generative AI course. https://www.thebabbgroup.com/ https://www.professorservices.com/

Gina DiMartino understands the roles of faculty and adjuncts and how they are often called to be more than an instructor. They lead and help students navigate their educational experience. In this episode, Gina talks about the importance of mental health and well-being for adjunct faculty so they can be present to the mental health needs of students. Gina shares observations on faculty burnout and compassion fatigue from the pandemic and offers practical solutions, resources, and training for schools to support faculty.

Rishi Barran and the team at Full Sail University's Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting understand the importance of career readiness and employability. The entire program is built for students to land their first or next job. But that's not all. While students learn real-world skills, they also learn professionalism, communication, and character. In this episode, Rishi also shares his tips for creating media for online classes and how to connect with online students.

You're ready for an academic career and getting an adjunct position, but not sure where to start. Dorothy Miraglia, Vice President of Professor Services, shares the tools you need and practical tips to land your first gig or your next gig. She shares advice from her experiences and from working with clients every day who are getting started and who are working full time as adjuncts. Plus, we talk about the challenges of balancing full time jobs, teaching, and family.

"Not everyone needs a four-year degree." Heather Thomas of NetCom Learning explains how microcredentials and certificates are meeting the needs of companies that need to upskill their employees quickly. She shares the importance of listening and collaborating with customers to meet their learners' needs for new courses and different modalities.

If you're thinking about working as an adjunct or expanding your teaching career, George King is career goals. In this episode, George shares his career journey from law enforcement to full-time adjunct while balancing family and continuing his education. He's a great role model for faculty and students. He gives advice on the value of a CV, time management, job applications, managing discussion boards, connecting with students, and how his late policy empowers students. He does it all while keeping it real and holding his grandson, who is skipping naptime.

Looking to transition to a new job or career? Julie Shore, President and founder of Career Development Advisors, shares advice on navigating career transitions, having networking conversations, and the top skills employers want. Julie works with adults and students and shares her experiences working with people of all ages on their mindsets, matching values with work, and the power of volunteering. Getting the next job is more than sending out applications. It's making clear choices that align your values, skills, and talents with opportunities.