The Pedagogy Toolkit

Vital Signs and LMS Analytics: Is Your Course in Stable Condition?

Global Campus — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Camie and Alex discuss how to take the pulse of your asynchronous course using LMS data, student feedback, and your own professional judgment through reflection. From ghost town discussion boards to unclear instructions masquerading as rigor, they offer practical tips (and a few laughs) to help you diagnose issues early - before your course needs a crash cart.

...And we're back! Recapping SXSW Edu 2025

Global Campus — Fri, 16 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

After our spring hiatus, The Pedagogy Toolkit is back! Amalie, Alex, and Camie attended the SXSW Edu conference in March and came home rejuvenated and full of new ideas.

In this episode, we recap the highlights from our week in Austin.

SXSW Edu

Tiny Experiments, by Anne-Laure Le Cunff

Productive Failure, by Manu Kapur

The AI Alliance and The Guide to Essential Competencies

Debugging Education: Finding the Root Cause of Learning Loss

Global Campus — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Alex and Camie discuss the 5 types of learning gaps.

Technostress: Insights to Decrease Fatigue in Online Learning

Global Campus — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 09:30:00 -0500

In this episode - Camie and Alex discuss the concept of Technostress - students and instructors becoming burned out by overuse of tech in their education and daily living. They discuss how to decrease the impact of this type of stress in the fully online learning environment.

Stay tuned for a little end-credits blooper too!

References:

BOLT Conference 2024 Recap and Recordings
Kumar, P. S. (2024). Technostress: A comprehensive literature review on dimensions, impacts, and management strategies. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 100475.
Fredericks, S., ElSayed, M., Hammad, M., Abumiddain, O., Istwani, L., Rabeea, A., Rashid-Doubell, F., & Bella, A. M. E. (2021). Anxiety is associated with extraneous cognitive load during teaching using high-fidelity clinical simulation. Medical Education Online, 26(1), Article 1994691.
Saleem, F., Chikhaoui, E., & Malik, M. I. (2024). Technostress in students and quality of online learning: Role of instructor and university support. Frontiers in Education, 9, Article 1309642.
Mheidly, N., Fares, M. Y., & Fares, J. (2020). Coping with stress and burnout associated with telecommunication and online learning. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, Article 574969.

5 Minute Tips: Student Engagement

Global Campus — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Camie gives 3 tips for improving student engagement in your asynchronous online course.

Hot Takes and Cool Heads: Navigating Heated Topics in the Online Classroom

Global Campus — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Amalie and Camie discuss incorporating and managing controversy in class discussions.

https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/22/02/you-want-teach-what

https://kappanonline.org/richardson-using-controversy-as-a-teaching-tool-an-interview-with-diana-hess/

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/programs/cornerstones-of-democracy/confronting-controversial-issues-in-the-classroom/

Why So Curious? Cultivating Inquiring Minds in Online Learning

Global Campus — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 09:30:00 -0500

In today's show - Amalie and Alex discuss how to foster the necessary trait of curiosity. For instructors in fully online programs, cultivating this may seem tricky, but there are simple and effective practices which encourage students to go deeper and become lifelong learners.

References:

Myth Takedown #6: Discussions Always Work

Global Campus — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Amalie and Camie talk about ways to improve discussions.

A Face You Can Trust: Humanizing the Online Classroom

Global Campus — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Camie and Amalie look at the ways that humanizing your courses-- especially your online courses-- can combat academic dishonesty.

The Relationship/Cheating Connection: Do Students Cheat Less When They Have a Strong Relationship with the Teacher?

Essential Considerations for Addressing the Possibility of AI-Driven Cheating, Part 1

Essential Considerations for Addressing the Possibility of AI-Driven Cheating, Part 2

Worth a Thousand Words: the Power of Visual Literacy

Global Campus — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Alex interviews Dylan Craig, visual information architect with the Global Campus Media team. They discuss the resources and capabilities of the media team for online instructors with the U of A. And they dive into the concept of visual literacy from the perspective of graphic design and instructional design to improve the use of media and visuals in online courses.

References:

Moline, S. (2008). What is visual literacy? Stenhouse Publishers.
Visual Literacy in Bloom's Taxonomy to Support Visual Learning Skills, Arneson & Offerdahl
Mayer's 12 Principles of Multimedia Learning
The Pedagogy Toolkit, Myth Takedown #1: The Illusion of Learning Styles

Myth Takedown #5: Easily Learned is Easily Remembered

Global Campus — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Camie and Amalie discuss the myth that a concept that is easily "learned" is easily remembered.

Grasp: The Science Transforming How We Learn by Sanjay Sarma

Understanding the Science Behind Learning Retention

"Does easily learned mean easily remembered? it depends on your beliefs about intelligence" by David B. Miele, Bridgid Finn, Daniel C. Molden

Building Trust: Navigating AI and Honesty in Education

Global Campus — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Camie talks to Chris Bryson, Director of Academic Initiatives and Integrity at the University of Arkansas, about Academic Honesty with AI.

honesty.uark.edu

Fair Use or Foul Play? Untangling Copyright in the Classroom

Global Campus — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, James and Camie talk with Lora Lennertz a librarian at the University of Arkansas Libraries about copyright.

University of Arkansas Libraries

How to Cite AI Guide

Myth Takedown #4: Fun is Engaging

Global Campus — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Amalie and Camie discuss how fun does not always equal student engagement.

Myth Takedown #3: Motivated Students Don't Equal Successful Students

Global Campus — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 09:30:00 -0500

This is the third episode in the Learning Myth Takedown Series. James and Alex discuss the concept that "motivation in students breeds successful outcomes". This is not supported by data and can actually lead to missing out on key ways to create successful outcomes in students - in one way, through a unique way to use testing. Check out the articles and sources referenced in the episode below:

Education Corner | 27 Educational Myths and How to Debunk Them

Medium.com | The Surprising Truth: Why Motivation is Not the Key to Success

The Pedagogy Toolkit | Low Stakes, High Rewards: Cracking the Code to Successful Assessments

Educational Psychology Review | Retrieval Practice Consistently Benefits Student Learning: a Systematic Review of Applied Research in Schools and Classrooms

International Journal of eLearning & Distance Education | An Analysis of Synchronous and Asynchronous Online Undergraduate Motivation during the COVID Pandemic

Brown, McDaniel, and Rodiger | Make it Stick

Leveling the Virtual Playing Field: Making Online Education Accessible to All, Part 2

Global Campus — Mon, 20 May 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Camie sits down with Krystle Merry to discuss accessibility in online education. Don't forget to check out Krystle's website! This is Part 2 of a two-part episode.

National Educational Technology Plan

AEM (Accessible Education Materials) Center

Grackle Docs

Natural Reader

Section 508

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

Leveling the Virtual Playing Field: Making Online Education Accessible to All, Part 1

Global Campus — Mon, 06 May 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Camie sits down with Krystle Merry to discuss accessibility in online education. Don't forget to check out Krystle's website! This is Part 1 of a two-part episode.

National Educational Technology Plan

AEM (Accessible Education Materials) Center

Grackle Docs

Natural Reader

Section 508

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

Happy Anniversary: What's New in Ultra Since We First Mic'd Up

Global Campus — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Hard to believe it's been a whole year! Because we started this podcasting journey in April 2023 with a look at the new Blackboard Ultra, we thought this would be a great opportunity for the whole gang to gather round and talk about what's changed and evolved since then, and how the shift is playing out in our courses.

Blackboard Ultra

Teaching Innovation and Pedagogical Support

Ultra Banner Maker

Keeping Score: Getting to the Heart of How We Grade

Global Campus — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Amalie and Camie talk about how we evaluate student work. We talk about the history of formal standardized grading and take a look at a few different ways we might consider approaching the way we keep track of student learning.

The Case Against Zero - Teach Empowered

Pros and Cons of the Letter Grading System - The Week

Why the 100 Point Grading Scale is a Stacked Deck - Edutopia

What is Mastery Based Grading? - New England SSC

What is Mastery Grading? - University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Transformative Teaching

Open Books, Open Minds: How OER Reduces Barriers in Higher Ed

Global Campus — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Christine Rickabaugh joins Camie Wood for a discussion on OER (open education resources) best practices. You can reach Christine by emailing oer@uark.edu. Explore OER resources at the University of Arkansas.

Myth Takedown #2: Lay Down the Leech, Transfuse Your Teaching

Global Campus — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 09:30:00 -0500

In this episode, Alex and Camie discuss how the traditional lecture is too often the default learning activity used by instructors. In some cases, the lecture makes sense, but in other instances, there are many other active learning techniques. We suggest alternatives and challenge instructors to rethink how to teach with the lecture in their classes.

References:

How Teaching Should Change, According to a Nobel-Prize-Winning Physicist

A Nobel Laureate's Education Plea: Revolutionize Teaching

Large-scale Comparison of Science Teaching Methods Sends Clear Message

Active Learning | Cornell University

Myth Takedown #1: The Illusion of Learning Styles

Global Campus — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500

This episode begins our series on pedagogical myths, starting the the grand daddy of them all: learning styles. Amalie, James, and Alex dive into the basis for one of the most enduring beliefs in education and the research that shows why it's not all it's cracked up to be.

The Atlantic | 11 April 2018: The Myth of ‘Learning Styles’,

American Psychology Association | 2015: Matching Learning Style to Instructional Condition

American Association for Anatomy | 13 March 2018: Another Nail in the Coffin for Learning Styles?

Howard Gardner: 'Multiple intelligences' are not learn ing styles | 16 Oct 2013 Washington Post

"Learning Styles as a Myth" Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning

"Stop propagating the learning styles myth." | 2017 P. Kirschner Computers & Education

"The Stubborn Myth of 'Learning Styles.'" | W. Furey, Education Next

Belief in Learning Styles Myth May Be Detrimental | 2019 American Psychological Association.

"Learning Styles FAQ." | danielwillingham.com.

Beyond a Resume, Part Two: ePortfolios in Higher Ed

Global Campus — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 09:30:00 -0500

This is part two of our episode featuring Dr. Lynn Meade, teaching assistant professor in the University of Arkansas' Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. In this episode, Camie and Alex speak with Dr. Meade about the drawbacks, implementation, and experience of ePortfolios as a high-impact learning practice. Dr. Meade teaches a professional ePortfolio course at the U of A and has developed an open-education resource textbook for ePortfolios.

UARK ePortfolio site

UARK ePortfolio OER Textbook

UARK OER Library site

International Journal of ePortfolio from the Association of American Colleges and Universities

High Impact Practices at the University of Arkansas

Beyond a Resume, Part One: ePortfolios in Higher Ed

Global Campus — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500

This is part one of a two-part episode featuring Dr. Lynn Meade, teaching assistant professor in the University of Arkansas' Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. In this episode, Camie and Alex speak with Dr. Meade about the practice, implementation, benefits, and drawbacks of ePortfolios as a high-impact learning practice. Dr. Meade teaches a professional ePortfolio course at the U of A and has developed an open-education resource textbook for ePortfolios.

UARK ePortfolio site

UARK ePortfolio OER Textbook

UARK OER Library site

International Journal of ePortfolio from the Association of American Colleges and Universities

High Impact Practices at the University of Arkansas

Where Everybody Knows Your Screen Name: Incorporating Social Learning in the Asynchronous Online Classroom

Global Campus — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Amalie and Camie explore incorporating social learning in the asynchronous online classroom.

Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment

Vygotksy's Sociocultural Theory

The Community of Inquiry

Don't Fear the Regulator: How RSI Improves Online Courses

Global Campus — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 09:30:00 -0500

In this episode, Camie and Alex discuss the federal policy for online higher education courses: Regular and Substantive Education (RSI). The discussion includes the background of the policy, how implementing this policy affects instructors’ courses and enhances teaching practices, and some amphibian cuisine!

The Write Stuff, Part Two: How to Incorporate Writing into Any Class

Global Campus — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500

This week’s episode is the second of a two-part series on the High Impact Practice (HIP) of Writing-Intensive Courses. This week we focus on how strategies for incorporating more writing.

For this discussion, James and Amalie are joined by Dana Blair, the coordinator of the Writing Studio at the University of Arkansas’s Student Success Center.

The WAC Clearinghouse-- excellent repository for resources geared toward writing across the curriculum.

Approaches to teaching reading and writing: Kelly Gallagher and Penny Kittle

The Write Stuff, Part One: Why Writing Has a Place Throughout the Curriculum

Global Campus — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500

This week’s episode is the first of a two-part series on the High Impact Practice (HIP) of Writing-Intensive Courses. This week we’ll talk about effectively incorporating more writing into your courses, no matter the subject—why it’s important and how to go about it.

For this discussion, James and Amalie are joined by Dana Blair, the coordinator of the Writing Studio at the University of Arkansas’s Student Success Center.

The WAC Clearinghouse-- excellent repository for resources geared toward writing across the curriculum.

Access Granted: Unlocking Learning Through UDL

Global Campus — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Amalie and Camie discuss Universal Design for Learning, or UDL.

https://teaching.cornell.edu/teaching-resources/designing-your-course/universal-design-learning

https://teaching.uic.edu/resources/teaching-guides/inclusive-equity-minded-teaching-practices/universal-design-for-learning-udl/

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/udl-equity/

Julie Dirksen Design for How People Learn

Accessibility Meme

Happy Anniversary, ChatGPT!

Global Campus — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Back in November of 2022 OpenAI released ChatGPT 3.5 for public use. In less than 3 months, there were over 100 million users. The distribution of large-language models have changed our world, including education.

In this episode, James and Alex discuss the impact of generative AI and LLMs on education over the last year, and discuss the possibilities of its future.

OpenAI

H2O.AI

The Future of AI In Education: Opportunities and Challenges (Article)

Eradicating the Gremlins: How Blackboard Support Saves the Day

Global Campus — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Abi Moser returns to discuss the Office of Blackboard Support here at the University of Arkansas. We discuss how Blackboard Support can help online instructors and their students.

Email bbhelp@uark.edu

Call (479) 575 HELP (4357)

Visit bbhelp.uark.edu

From Trolls to Tact: The Art of Civil Discourse in Online Discussions

Global Campus — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Amalie and Camie discuss civil discourse in online courses.

Guide to Civil Discourse

Keeping It Civil Online

Civil Discourse: A Higher Education Conversation

Steps to incorporating civil discourse in your online class:

Set norms and procedures
Scaffold curriculum so that students have the information needed to discuss the topics.
Model norms and procedures for students and rely on questioning strategies to guide the conversation.
Share mental health resources.

Inquiring Minds: Leveraging Questions for Better Learning

Global Campus — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0500

The best teaching harnesses curiosity...and curiosity is all about finding the answers to our questions. In this episode, Amalie and Camie talk about the importance of being intentional in how we ask questions as educators and how we teach and encourage students to ask them as learners. We also talk about how to put those questions at the center of your curriculum and how to make the best use of the technology available for your online courses.

Want to reach out? Email us at gccreate@uark.edu and we'll be happy to chat!

Extra Resources:

"Why Questioning is the Ultimate Learning Skill," Forbes Magazine

The Right Question Institute

Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning at University of Illinois

Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning at Northern Illinois University

Teaching Excellence in Adult Literacy, The American Institute for Research

Center for Teaching and Learning at Washington University St. Louis

Center for Teaching Innovation at Cornell University

A Human Touch: Teacher Presence in Online Classes

Global Campus — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Alex and Camie discuss how vital teacher presence is for fully online courses for student success, instructor’s benefit, and meeting federal guidelines for asynchronous courses. We take a moment at the beginning to remember those lost and those who served in the time of need on September 11th, 2001 as this episode launched on the 22nd anniversary of this tragedy.

We also want to make one clarifying note – around the 2:00 minute mark, Alex and Camie discuss Laura Ingalls Wilders’ book series The Little House on the Prairie. A comment is made regarding the land being “not settled”. This comment is not meant to be taken as insensitive to the realities of that era. We acknowledge that the areas were settled by indigenous peoples, and we were describing the premise of the book, which is a fictionalization of Wilder’s childhood stories.

Want to reach out? Email us a gccreate@uark.edu and we'll be happy to chat!

Extra Resources:

Regular and Substantive Interaction: Background, Concerns, and Guiding Principles

Bailey K. “There’s Nothing Virtual About Online Connections” (2020). Ohio Wesleyan University.

Rivers, J. “Why Strong Student-Teacher Relationships Are Vital” (2023). Cengage.

The Importance of Instructor Presence – UARK Global Campus TIPS

The Not-So-Accidental Interview: Cammy Bean on the 2nd Edition of The Accidental Instructional Designer

Global Campus — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0500

This week, we've done something a little different at The Pedagogy Toolkit. Cammy Bean, instructional designer and author of The Accidental Instructional Designer kindly sat down with James and Amalie to discuss her career, the industry, and why she wrote a second edition of the book.

Cammy's book is available for purchase, and highly recommended by us-- in fact, we both read the first edition and thoroughly enjoyed the second just as much!

Unpacking Assessments: Using Rubrics to Deconstruct Your Grading

Global Campus — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Rubrics. Most of us either love them or hate them. In this episode, James and Amalie discuss the benefits and brilliance of using rubrics, as well as the pitfalls they encountered on their paths to becoming the rubric lovers they are today.

Course-tastrophe to Course-tastic: Renewed Energy in Your Online Class, Part 2

Global Campus — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0500

In this two-part episode, Abi Moser and Camie Wood discuss strategies in Blackboard for setting yourself and your students up for success.

Course-tastrophe to Course-tastic: Renewed Energy in Your Online Class, Part 1

Global Campus — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0500

In this two-part episode, Abi Moser and Camie Wood discuss strategies in Blackboard for setting yourself and your students up for success.

Course Clutter: How Alignment Can Improve Instruction

Global Campus — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Alex and Camie discuss the concept of alignment. Alignment focuses on the consistency and coherence between components of an online course, including materials, activities, assessments, objectives, and outcomes. Applying this concept in the development of any course, and especially online, can greatly improve the student and instructor experience.

Referenced from the show:

Course Map Guide - Example Template

Quality Matters

Curriculum Alignment by David Squires

Understanding by Design - Vanderbilt University

Backward Design - Harvard University

Beyond the Bubble Sheet: A Look at Alternative Assessments

Global Campus — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0500

When we think of assessments in our courses, we think of the usual suspects: multiple choice tests, long-form essays, short answer quizzes. But there are so many other options. In this episode, Alex and Amalie take a look at some of the ways instructors can incorporate these alternative assessments into their classrooms.

A few resources for further reading:

Grasp: The Science Transforming How We Learn

Best Practices for Alternative Assessments from Ryerson University

Sir Ken Robinson, education reform activist and researcher

Moving Clock-Wise: Time Management in Online Courses

Global Campus — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Making the move to online instruction comes with many unique obstacles and components to incorporate. In this episode, Alex and James discuss some recommendations and methods to best manage the creation and implementation of fully online courses.

The analogy of a puzzle is used to help understand this. There are the key strategies - “Put the corner and edge pieces in first”. Then there are the supplemental strategies to get more done “group puzzle pieces by color, landscape, object, etc.”. Similarly, in building and managing online courses, there are key strategies to manage time and there are supplemental strategies that we find helpful.

Consider these resources:

Notion

Microsoft Planner

Getting Things Done

Minds of Metal: Harnessing AI's Potential for Redefining Literacy

Global Campus — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, James, Amalie, and Camie discuss how AI is changing education.

Relevant links:

What is ChatGPT?

Interview with Geoffrey Hinton, Godfather of AI

CBS Interview with Geoffrey Hinton

Open Letter by Tech Leaders Asking to Pause the Advancement of AI

Exploring AI Crochet Patterns

ChatGPT Crochet Patterns

Why Cursive Handwriting is Good For Your Brain

Is Handwriting Relevant in the Digital Era (downloadable pdf)

The Importance of Cursive Handwriting Over Typing

Comparing Memory for Handwriting Versus Typing

AI Detectors Can Get It Wrong

AI Whisperer Jobs

Small Bites, Big Insights: How Micro-lectures Get Courses Cooking

Global Campus — Tue, 23 May 2023 09:00:00 -0500

How micro-lectures get courses cooking

Looking to “spice” up your online teaching experience? Look no further than micro-lectures. In this episode, Alex Dowell, Amalie Holland, and Camie Wood discuss the benefits of this media feature in online courses. Video lectures are not new to distance learning, but strategically using micro-lectures can help take these courses to the next level.

UARK TIPS: How Micro-lectures Benefit Online Learning

Low Stakes, High Rewards: Cracking the Code to Successful Assessments

Global Campus — Mon, 08 May 2023 04:45:00 -0500

In this episode, Camie Wood, Amalie Holland, and James Martin discuss the benefits of low stakes testing and how to incorporate it in your class.

Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning

This show does not contain affiliate links.

An Ultra Weapon of Mass Instruction

Global Campus — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0500

How Blackboard Ultra can help defeat doomscrolling

In this episode we highlight the role of Blackboard Ultra in improving learners' engagement with online tools by creating healthier mobile habits. This includes, but is not limited to, ease of navigation, learning in a structured way, allowing for easy access from smartphones, and simpler and quick-to-access features for instructors. We seek to value the leverage of mobile learning positively to encourage healthier phone usage instead of “doom scrolling” or mindless navigation.

Links:

The Pedagogy Toolkit

Global Campus — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 04:30:00 -0500

Welcome to the Global Campus Pedagogy Toolkit! In this podcast, we’ll be discussing high-impact strategies for engaging and supporting students online, introducing innovative technology for online education, reviewing policies for higher education, and showcasing professional development and continuing education opportunities for online instructors in higher ed. So, join us as we dive into the world of educational technology