ODLI on Air

Introducing the two newest members of the Teaching & Learning Center staff, Laurie Hays and Dr. MB Henry.

Hosts: Amber Alvord & Dr. Tom Pantazes

The Teaching & Learning Center staff discuss our recent reading of the Norton Guide to Equity-Minded Teaching written by Isis Artze-Vega, Flower Darby, Bryan Dewsbury, and Mays Imad. 

Guests: Dr. Naomie Nyanungo, Marc Drumm, Brian Carothers, Connor Goyne, and Hannah Glatt

Cohosts: Amber Alvord, Jes Drass, & Dr. Tom Pantazes  

First Year Experience (FYE) instructors and members of the common content development team Dr. Karen Mitchell, Dr. Shannon Mrkich, Dr. Jennifer Raskauskas, and Michelle Blake discuss how they collaborated to create common content to help students succeed in their transition to university.

Host: Dr. Tom Pantazes

Reflecting on their experiences completing the ACUE Certification in Effective Teaching, professors Nancy Barker, Merry Perry, & Ola Kopacz share what they learned from the year long program.

Cohosts: Jes Drass and Dr. Tom Pantazes

Found poetry advocates Dr. Nancy Pearson and Dr. Rebecca Rich describe how they came to incorporate found poetry techniques into their English and Public Health courses.

Cohosts: Jes Drass and Dr. Tom Pantazes

Dean of the Arts and Humanities, Dr. Jen Bacon shares what it is like to be a dean as she reflects back on her 26 years at West Chester University.

Host: Dr. Tom Pantazes

Past participants Diane Santori & Alison Gardiner-Shires describe the experience of engaging in a Teaching Circle faculty learning community that explored Generative AI.

Cohosts: Jes Drass and Dr. Tom Pantazes

Investigative reporter and associate professor of journalism Dr. Dyan Neary describes her reporting, writing, and hosting of Serial Productions: The Preventionist Podcast.

Host: Dr. Tom Pantazes

This episode explores the processes of the West Chester University Institutional Review Board or IRB with two experts: Dr. Melissa Reed, Professor in the Kinesiology Department, who has served on the IRB for 15 years, including 7 years as co-chair; and Dr. Heather Leaman, Professor in Early and Middle Grades Education, who has served on the IRB for 6 years, including 4 years as co-chair. 

Hosts: Jimmy John and Dr. Tom Pantazes

Nutrition professor Dr. Michael Holik describes creating a virtual reality kitchen experience for his students using ThingLink.

Cohosts: Jes Drass and Dr. Tom Pantazes

Responding to frustrations with traditional grading systems, communication studies professor Dr. Roger Gatchet tells the story of his switch to ungrading and specifications grading formats.

Cohosts: Jes Drass & Amber Alvord

First year writing instructor Dr. Margaret Ervin discusses how she works to build and maintain trust with students.

Cohosts: Amber Alvord & Dr. Tom Pantazes

Podcaster and associate professor of digital and global media Dr. Jeremy McCool, interviews the ODLI on Air cohosts to celebrate 75 episodes.

Cohosts: Amber Alvord, Jes Drass, and Dr. Tom Pantazes

Neurodivergent scholar and librarian Dr. Jennifer Slagus discusses the importance of hearing and incorporating diverse perspectives into research, academics, and other university spaces.

Cohosts: Jes Drass and Dr. Tom Pantazes

Barbie and children’s pop culture expert Dr. Emily Aguiló-Pérez discusses how she uses toys and personal experiences as topics for engaging students in learning about research and writing.

Cohosts: Jes Drass & Dr. Tom Pantazes

Dr. Jaeyong Choi, Dr. Eryn Travis and Dr. Linh Ngo discuss how AI can strengthen research and feedback for both faculty and students — without replacing the critical thinking that drives meaningful scholarship.

Hosts: Jimmy John and Dr. Tom Pantazes

Biochemist Dr. Tom Kwiatkowski shares how he incorporates Nanome Virtual Reality and AlphaFold AI into his instructional practice.

Host: Dr. Tom Pantazes

Students who have potential to succeed at West Chester University, but don't quite meet all admission requirements can enter the Academic Success Program. ASP faculty Dr. Paris McPherson, staff member Jake Mann, and ASP students Tymir Jones and Cass Cooper provide their perspectives on this important program.

Cohosts: Jes Drass and Dr. Tom Pantazes

Counselors and creators of the case conceptualization framework Dr. Lynn Zubernis and Dr. Matt Snyder describe how they utilized CELT grant funding and a collaboration with theater students to create ten video cases demonstrating their method in action.

Host: Dr. Tom Pantazes

Two years into the tenure track, Dr. Danielle Kronmuller-Harvey and Dr. Kasey Trill reflect on the challenges and accomplishments of their first two years at West Chester University.

Hosted by Dr. Tom Pantazes and Amber Alvord

What happens when your child attends the university where you work? In this episode, Dr. Kristen Crossney, Professor of Public Policy Administration, and her daughter Natalie, a third-year marketing and management major, share their experiences and guidelines for navigating campus life together at West Chester University. 

Host: Dr. Tom Pantazes

Wishing to address student teacher anxiety with teaching math, Dr. Tiffany Bennett and Dr. Sujata Norman combined their research interests, to investigate how contemplative practices and an intentional focus on improving self-efficacy could boost student teachers’ skills.

Cohosts: Dr. Tom Pantazes and Amber Alvord

West Chester University Doctor of Education program leaders Dr. Heather Schugar & Dr. Jackie Hodes share their experiences and advice for leading an access oriented, high touch, cohort model doctoral program.

Cohosts: Dr. Tom Pantazes and Jessica Drass

A special live episode recording exploring the breadth of podcast possibilities with 5 West Chester University faculty. Whether it is using them as course texts or for assessment, creating podcasts for teaching or scholarship, or preparing students to be podcast professionals, this episode has something for everyone.

Host: Dr. Tom Pantazes

Panelists:

• Dr. David Barry, Assistant Professor, Early and Middle Grades
• Dr. Michael Rosario, Associate Professor, Biology
• Dr. Jeremy McCool, Assistant Professor, Communication and Media
• Dr. Anne Gill, Assistant Professor, Secondary Education
• Dr. Pauline Schmidt, Professor of English Education and Director, West Chester Writing Project

Communication and Media professor Maxine Gesualdi and student Faith Phillips describe the practical application of an active learning teaching strategy called interteaching.

Cohosts: Dr. Tom Pantazes and Jes Drass

Game designer and English professor, Dr. Laquana Cooke discusses the role of games in education with a particular focus on how unpacking games provides rich educational possibilities. 

Cohosts: Jes Drass and Dr. Tom Pantazes

Reflecting on her 20 year career at West Chester University, Teaching & Learning Center administrative assistant Pat Brander shares stories and laughter before beginning retirement.

Cohosts: Dr. Tom Pantazes and Jes Drass

Faculty Associate for Student Engagement and Retention and Compass Program Coordinator Dr. Tammy James discusses how the West Chester University Compass program helps young black men succeed.

Cohosts: Dr. Tom Pantazes and Jes Drass

In her final episode ODLI on Air cohost Madison Steinbrenner reflects on her time as an instructional designer with the Teaching & Learning Center.

Cohosts: Madison Steinbrenner, Jes Drass, Amber Alvord, and Dr. Tom Pantazes

Assistant professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, Dr. Casey Schmitt shares how Dungeons & Dragons inspired him to create a fun and engaging role-playing activity for students.

Cohosts: Jes Drass and Dr. Tom Pantazes

Student collaborator Gaven Toney and program participant Dr. Sally Lawton share their experiences in the WCU Student and Faculty Teaching Collaboration Program.

Cohosts: Dr. Tom Pantazes and Madison Steinbrenner

Five communication and media students share their perspectives on artificial intelligence in education and the broader world based on their experiences taking Dr. Eryn Travis’ Communication Course: Generative AI and Strategic Communication.

Guests:

• Dr. Eryn Travis
• Bethanie Lori  
• Bradyn Genello  
• Chris Moreno  
• Austin Williams 
• Sofia Vizzarri 

Host: Madison Steinbrenner

History professor and scholar of Islamic history, Dr. Elizabeth Urban shares how she approaches the co-creation of course policies and expectations with students using an AI policy as an example.   

Cohosts: Jes Drass and Dr. Tom Pantazes 

Dr. Adam Rainear and Dr. Tom Pantazes recap their experiences attending and presenting at the University of Akron's NEXT Conference.

What is online tutoring and how does it work at West Chester University? Dr. Jocelyn Manigo, director of the Learning Assistance and Resource Center discusses tutor.com and how it can support student success.  

Hosted by Amber Alvord and Dr. Tom Pantazes

Philosophy professor and member of the Muscogee Nation, Dr. Joey Miller discusses indigenous pedagogies and decolonization drawing on his own experiences as an educator. 

Cohosts: Dr. Tom Pantazes and Madison Steinbrenner

Potter and associate professor of Art Andrew Snyder shares how he experimented with AI to create pottery.  

Hosted by Jessica Drass and Dr. Tom Pantazes

Political scientist Dr. Shannon McQueen shares her collection of teaching strategies and techniques that help her create powerful learning experiences for students in her diversity focused courses.

Hosted by: Dr. Tom Pantazes and Jessica Drass

Mentor Dr. Kerrie Ocasio and mentee Dr. Rachel Colwell discuss their experience in the New Faculty Mentoring Program throughout the academic year. Looking back on what they each gained from the experience, they share highlights and discuss what a successful mentorship can look like for university faculty.

Hosts: Dr. Tom Pantazes and Amber Alvord

Encouraging students to read is a challenge. Dr. Julie Wiest describes how her active learning project overcomes this challenge and draws out student perspectives and experiences related to the reading.

Hosted by: Madison Steinbrenner and Dr. Tom Pantazes

What is reciprocal peer coaching and how can it benefit faculty? Dawn Patterson, Sandi Walz, and Stephen DiDomenico share those answers and more as they describe their experience participating in the TLC Teaching Triangles program.

Host: Dr. Tom Pantazes

Dr. Anne Gill shares her insight into how she thinks about and uses podcasts as a teaching text in college courses.

Hosted by Jes Drass and Dr. Tom Pantazes

TLC staff Marc Drumm & Hannah Glatt share their reflections on and learning from the 2024 Online Learning Consortium Innovate Conference.

Hosted by Dr. Tom Pantazes and Madison Steinbrenner

What is open science and how can it support student success? Biology professor Megan Fork and biology student Jessica Buchser share how resources like podcasts, open journal articles, and the WCU Biology Department diversity speaker series encourage individuals to engage with science concepts and inspired Jessica to become a microbiologist.

Hosted by Dr. Tom Pantazes and Madison Steinbrenner

Eryn Travis, Assistant professor in the Department of Communication and Media, utilizes generative AI to engage with students and construct communications. In this two-part series, she shares her perspective on this new tool as a communication expert, details the statistics behind how it will impact the workplace, and recalls her students’ reactions and feelings towards generative AI. 

Cohosts: Dr. Tom Pantazes & Jes Drass

Eryn Travis, Assistant professor in the Department of Communication and Media, utilizes generative AI to engage with students and construct communications. In this two-part series, she shares her perspective on this new tool as a communication expert, details the statistics behind how it will impact the workplace, and recalls her students’ reactions and feelings towards generative AI. 

Cohosts: Dr. Tom Pantazes & Jes Drass

Dr. Christopher Roemmele, an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at WCU and Dr. Tom Pantazes, Instructional Designer in the Teaching and Learning Center discuss their collaboration in bringing students across the world through the creation of VR video field trips in Dr. Roemmele's intro to geology courses.

Hosted by Jes Drass and Madison Steinbrenner

While doing research on the history of medicine, Aaron Stoyack and Samuel Romeiser learned of Samuel Christian Schmucker’s promotion of eugenics. Dr. Ruswick encouraged Aaron to take action, leading to the formation of the student organization Students Against Schmucker (SAS). SAS wrote a letter to the WCU community and collected student and faculty signatures, leading to the renaming of Schmucker Science Center to The Science Complex. 

Host: Dr. Tom Pantazes