The Higher EdTech Podcast: Recent Episodes
Tim VanNorman & Brent Warner
Instructional Technologist Tim VanNorman and Professor Brent Warner work through the ins and outs of technology integration in Higher Education. The show focuses on best classroom practices for instructors in face-to-face, hybrid, and online courses. You'll hear about tools and tips that help you gain a broader understanding of the tech your students are using and expecting, and you'll hear interviews with peers and colleagues that are implementing educational technology in innovative and engaging ways.
Times are changing fast! Some things are only bits we can guess at, and others are things we can plan for. We're looking at some future predictions and plans as we step into our summer break for the last episode of the season. Listen in for some ideas about how to think about tech and prepare for the fall without overwhelming ourselves.
Show notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
What happens when there's a cybersecurity breach in your LMS? Is there anything the average faculty or staff can do when it happens? Brent & Tim discuss it all in the wake of cybersecurity breakdowns across academia.
Show Notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
In the last episode we talked about some of the possibilities of gamification in the world of AI, but a lot of people aren't aware that you can build a lot of these ideas with some vibe coding. Vibe coding is a term that picked up some steam last year, but not everybody is aware of it or what it can mean for them in the classroom. Tim and Brent look at what it is, some ideas on what you might be able to do, and some very serious things to be aware of.
Show notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
As AI starts to make a lot of complicated coding a lot easier, Tim & Brent look at the possibilities of custom-building fully gamified classrooms and what it might look like. Tune in for some big-concept talks around ways to potentially convert dry and traditional course structuring into engaging platforms with gaming mechanics embedded in.
Show notes at www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
You may have heard that you need to be in compliance with Title II ADA regulations by April 24, but it's not as straighforward NOR as overwhelming as it might seem at first glance. Tim & Brent go over the timing, the expectations, and some tips to get you on your way toward better compliance.
Show notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Nick Wilkening, Irvine Valley College's Director of Technology Services, returns for his annual updates on what's happening with Technology Services at IVC. Whether you're at IVC or listening in from another institution, it's always worth hearing what's happening and how things work from the tech team on campus. Nick shares insights on organizational restructuring, changes to telephone services to match the modern age, and ensuring that cellular services work for everyone, no matter where you are.
Show notes at www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Rather than using unreliable AI Detectors, consider using a tool that helps visualize and review the writing process to help your students understand what's happening in their writing. Tim & Brent talk about some of the most popular choices out there and break down the differences between these tools.
Show notes at www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Fake students are a frustrating problem that a lot of teachers have to deal with, especially in online classes, but don't get a lot of support on how to do so. Tim & Brent break down some of the issues and offer some suggestions on recognizing and dealing with them.
Show notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Tim and Brent sit down with Tricia Bertram Gallant to talk about ideas around Academic Integrity as it goes through a new round of concerns and frustrations in the age of AI. Listen in as Dr. Bertram Gallant shares philosophical and practical approaches to dealing with the problems we're all facing.
For those at IVC, this episode serves as a launching point for our AI Task Force Spring 2026 book club as we will read The Opposite of Cheating and Dr. Bertram Gallant will join us at the end of the semester on campus.
Show notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
To kick of 2026, we sit down with Irvine Valley College's Vice President of Instruction, Rick Miranda to talk about approaching the conversation around Agentic AI and his broader vision for tech in the future of higher education.
We often talk about the teacher's perspective, but today we get to dig into the thinking of administration. Tune in to think about alternative approaches to these tricky conversations!
Shownotes at www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
If you've been hearing about NotebookLM, but haven't explored what it has to offer, Tim & Brent discuss what it is, how it's different than other AI Chatbots, and some ideas on how you can use it in your classrooms and institutions.
There's a lot to explore here, so listen in and then crack open your own account to see if NotebookLM is a fit for you.
Shownotes at www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Every year Tim and Brent dig into some possible gifts for the techie teacher in your life. Whether you're looking to treat yourself, or just can't find something that will make the teacher in your life a little happier, we've got some ideas for you to check out. Listen in to hear the suggestions and thoughts about how teachers might use them.
Show notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Companies like Google, Microsoft, Canvas, and many more have positioned themselves as solutions to education problems, but they're making very few moves to protect what we know about the learning process? It wouldn't be hard for them to make things work in much more pedagogically sound ways, but they seem to be uninterested in doing much beyond the status quo.
In this episode, Tim and Brent discuss what Google (and all of the other corporations, too) can do to actually help teachers and students through the learning process.
Warning, some of these ideas could lead to slippery slopes, so it's worth thinking them through.
Show notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Millions of people, including teachers and students, were affected by the recent outage of AWS as it took almost all EdTech, including Canvas, out of commission. While we may not collectively learn not to put all of our eggs in one basket, we can individually prepare ourselves for when this (inevitably) happens again. Listen in for ideas on how to deal with tech outages.
Show Notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
It's been a while since we've looked at Zoom updates, and there have been a LOT recently! If you've gotten into a rut with the ways you use Zoom, listen in to hear some of the new features that might be useful for you and your students or colleagues!
Show notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Agentic AI is coming hard-baked into browsers, and it's absolutely frictionless to have it complete homework. Brent & Tim discuss Google's (NOT paused) Homework Helper and Perplexity's Comet browser as examples of ways AI companies are proactively dismantling the learning process while claiming to support students.
This is a bit of a dark one, but we've got to discuss these things.
Show notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
There are a lot of initiatives happening in California and the California Community Colleges have cannonballed into the pool with summits, initiatives, and partnerships all over the place. Tim & Brent discuss the most recent announcements and what they might mean for faculty, staff, and admin up and down the state.
Show notes at www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Tim and Brent zoom out a bit to look at some of the things you might consider when making a transition. Tim shares some of his approaches to moving into management and the areas he had to consider as he made the change, and the parallels to teaching new classes or working with new groups of students.
Show notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Group assignments and peer reviews great, but it’s not always clear how to get things going on a digital platform. What are the options to make useful peer reviews in Canvas? We're looking into it in this episode of the HigherEdTech Podcast!
Show Notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
What does it mean for OpenAI to embed their AI right into Canvas? We're discussing the implications and the questions that came up when this announcement dropped - right during most teachers' summer break.
Show notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
In the season 6 finale, Brent and Tim provide a rapid-fire tour of 12 tech tools available at IVC that faculty can explore during summer break. This practical episode highlights vetted resources that enhance course design, streamline feedback, improve accessibility, and create more engaging student experiences—all without additional cost. Though focused on IVC's available tools, the hosts encourage listeners at other institutions to check with their IT departments for similar options. With just enough details to spark interest, this episode offers a valuable starting point for instructors looking to refresh their teaching toolkit before fall semester begins.
Show notes: www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
In this episode, Brent and Tim share practical strategies for preparing for fall semester while finishing up spring courses. They discuss valuable ideas including documenting course notes, creating AI literacy assignments, developing instructional videos, improving group projects, using student feedback, refining rubrics, and building flexible teaching modules. These approaches can help instructors thoughtfully close their current semester while planning ahead, saving time and energy when fall arrives. Listen in for a timely conversation for educators looking to wrap up spring effectively while setting themselves up for teaching success next term.
Show notes at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Tim and Brent sit down with Eric Lavin at Playlab.ai to talk about what Playlab is, how it can help educators, and the value of using AI to customize your work.
Show notes at www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Tim & Brent went down to San Diego to check out the AI Show @ ASU+GSV! Check out just a small portion of what was happening and how the show focused on helping educators beyond the hype cycles and into the practicalities of understanding AI in education.
Show notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Group Assignments are great, but there can be a lot of confusion on setting things up in the LMS. We're breaking down the differences between Group Assignments, Group Discussions, Assignments for Groups, and all the other confusingly similarly named ways to consolidate student work on Canvas.
Show notes: www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Ever wonder how colleges handle emergencies? IVC's Director of Technology Services Nick Wilkening comes back for a follow-up to the last episode, revealing behind-the-scenes insights into institutional readiness and cybersecurity in this compelling episode. From practical personal preparedness tips to understanding how campuses operate during crises, this conversation offers valuable perspective for anyone working in higher education technology.
Notes at www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
We brought IVC's Director of Technology Services back on the show to talk about the types of campus-wide tech updates we've been implementing at IVC and how understanding them can help make a more secure work environment.
Show notes at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
AI Bots are popping up into our Zoom meetings, our online classes, and more. This is more than just a classroom issue - many meetings across campuses are starting to feel the slow creep of bots coming in to replace attendees for people who will "check the highlights" later - but can we trust the accuracy of these bots to summarize or give voice to important issues that come up? We're discussing the ins and outs!
Show notes: TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Want to simplify your Google workflow but don't know where to start? We're exploring some Google add-ons that can make your workspace work for you.
Show notes and info at www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
There are a lot of teachers out there who like AI for their personal lives, but don't want to bring it into their classroom or to have it touch their pedagogy. No problem! There are certainly ways to use AI as a teacher without having it touch your curriculum. In this episode, Tim & Brent discuss some of the ways to incorporate AI into your workflow in ways you might be more comfortable with.
More info at www.TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
You deserve your winter break, so we're keeping it short and sweet with some quick and actionable tips that you might not have known about to help save you time and improve your workflow.
Links & Show Notes at https://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Are people asking you what gift you want for the holidays, or maybe you're struggling to find the right thing for the nerdy someone in your life? Tim & Brent share some ideas for things that a techie teacher might enjoy at the end of 2024.
Links & Show Notes at https://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
2025 is upon us, and it's time to start thinking about the new semester. In this episode, Tim and Brent talk about some considerations that you might start planning for now in order to make a smooth (and possibly experimental) transition into 2025.
Show notes at thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Open Educational Resources are commonly discussed on college campuses, but what are they and why are they so important? Our OER librarian, Rachel Fleming, joins us to explain the big picture behind OER and how they can positively impact the lives and learning experiences of our students.
More info at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Custom bots programmed with a specific goal in mind are a great way to focus studies for students. There are a number of ways to do this, but with Playlab AI, we're offered a FERPA Compliant option that we can share with all of our students. Tim & Brent recently got access to building in Playlab - listen in for their impressions!
Show notes at thehigheredtechpodcast.com
A lot of people want AI on their campus, but don't have a plan in place to make it happen. Tim & Brent talk about what's needed to build a campus-wide action plan to ensure that AI is thoughtfully integrated on campus.
Show notes: TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
There's a lot of murkiness around how to define policies around AI. In this episode, Tim and Brent break down some of the realities of trying to make rules around AI and share some resources that have been built on the topic. If you're trying to figure out how to set expectations around the use of AI in your classroom, this episode is for you!
Show notes: TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
The modern classroom requires teachers to have a diverse set of tech skills to engage students and stay relevant. In this episode, Brent Warner and Tim Van Norman dive into the essential tech competencies both new and experienced educators should possess for face-to-face and online teaching. From setting up your classroom tech to leveraging learning management systems, this discussion offers practical tips to help teachers thrive in the digital age. Whether you're a tech-savvy veteran or just starting out, this episode is a must-listen for any educator looking to future-proof their teaching toolkit.
Show notes: TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
There are a lot of changes that have happened at Canvas. We talked about them a bit on episode 1, but we're doing a deep dive today!
For more information, check out the show notes at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Thanks for tuning in this season. We're wrapping up with a brief overview of some of the season's highlights as well as some advice on how to wrap up your semester. We also share a few conferences that might be worth checking out over the summer! Thanks so much, everybody - we'll see you in August!
More information at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Canvas Quizzes is finally getting the attention it's been needing for years. Despite threats of losing access to Classic Quizzes, this part of Canvas has been a bit of a mess. Now it seems that Canvas has started addressing the problems, so Tim & Brent are looking over some of the features and the things to know. Listen in to get a sense of what's available in the New Quizzes and why you might want to explore it for your classes.
More information at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
It's hard to keep all the things we're supposed to do straight during a busy semester, and sometimes mistakes happen. Tim & Brent discuss what to do when things go wrong, and ways to mitigate potential tech mistakes in the future.
Listen in for some tips you might not be aware of as well as some refreshers for the things you don't usually have to think about until they become a problem.
Shownotes at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Google has let the world know that Jamboard is going to the Google Graveyard, and many teachers are eyeballing alternatives. One of the most popular choices, and one that has a lot of robust features perfect for teachers is Figjam. Brent and Tim take a look at some of the enhanced features of this free resource and how it can work in the classroom.
Shownotes at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Running campus events, from guest speakers to club meetings to commencement and everywhere in between takes more consideration than ever before. Tim & Brent look at a number of the items you'll need to think about as you're planning to run events in person, online, or mixed as we come closer to the end of the school year and enter "events season".
Listen in as we discuss the details and the considerations your event might warrant.
Show Notes: www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Ever wondered how how to deal with the problems we see around AI? This episode of "The HigherEdTech Podcast" dives deep into the heart of AI's role in community colleges and universities. Join us as we explore both the revolutionary benefits and the challenges that educators face in integrating these technologies into their curriculums.
- Understanding AI's Potential: How can AI transform teaching and learning?
- Recognizing Pitfalls: Identifying common issues and how to avoid them.
- Practical Solutions: Real-world advice for educators on navigating AI's complexities.
- Future Outlook: What's next for AI in higher education?
Tune in to equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to confidently navigate the landscape of AI in education.
For show notes and other episodes, please visit: https://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
In Part 2 of our talks with teachers about building custom AI for their classes, we sit down with Zhen Zhai, professor of C++ at Irvine Valley College to talk about how she's used her background in Artificial Intelligence and computer science to build a custom bot for her programming students.
Professor Zhai discusses the innovative use of AI bots in Discord for enhancing student learning. Discover how customized AI tools can provide instant help with assignments and foster a supportive learning environment.
Listen in to hear about:
- Creating Custom AI Solutions: Learn how Prof. Zhai's Discord bot, Octopus, assists students outside of classroom hours.
- Improving Accessibility and Engagement: Explore the benefits of integrating AI in educational platforms for real-time support.
- Navigating Challenges and Future Prospects: Understand the challenges faced and the potential future enhancements in AI for education.
For show notes and other episodes, please visit: https://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Can custom chatbots transform your teaching approach? Discover the how professor Ric Epps is exploring the potential of AI in his classroom with custom immersive prompts. Hear how you can do the same by integrating immersive chatbot experiences in the classroom, reshaping student engagement, and redefining traditional teaching models.
Listen in to hear about:
- Custom Chatbots in the Classroom: Learn how Professor Epps crafts immersive AI experiences, engaging students beyond traditional online discussions.
- Building Interactive Historical Narratives: Explore the creation of virtual, interactive figures from history, enhancing the depth and relevance of historical education.
- Overcoming Challenges and Technical Insights: Uncover the practical challenges of integrating AI in teaching and the creative solutions that bring these technological tools to life.
- Future-Proofing Education: Reflect on the transformative potential of AI in education and how it can adapt to cater to the evolving needs of 21st-century students.
For show notes and other episodes, please visit: https://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Are you looking at bringing AI into your classroom but don't know where to start? Tim & Brent dive into the crucial considerations and practical steps educators must contemplate when integrating AI into their teaching methodologies.
This episode looks at a few of the areas we all need to consider:
- AI in Education: Exploring the potential and challenges of integrating AI into teaching practices.
- Practical Tips: Insights into using AI for course material preparation and managing administrative tasks.
- Ethical Considerations: Discussion on the ethical implications with your students, including data privacy and algorithmic biases.
- Decision-Making Framework: Guidance on making informed decisions regarding AI use in specific course contexts.
Links & Show Notes at https://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Lots of useful updates have come in to Canvas recently, so we're covering the most useful. From Gradebooks to Document Displays to Waitlist Enrollments, listen in to hear if there's something that can help you out as we step into the spring semester.
Links & Show Notes at https://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
We highly encourage everybody to take some down time to decompress over the winter break, but that doesn't mean you have to turn your brain off. Tim & Brent discuss some ways to keep your thoughts stimulated without worrying about the pressures of school life.
Links & Show Notes at https://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Are people asking you what gift you want for the holidays, or maybe you're struggling to find the right thing for the nerdy someone in your life? Tim & Brent share some ideas for things that a techie teacher might enjoy at the end of 2023.
Links & Show Notes at https://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
There's a lot of obfuscation around what is needed to get software on a college campus. What may seem easy to a teacher who can get their own subscription in a matter of minutes can take months to get through the approval process at school. Vendors, equally, are often unprepared to sell to higher ed institutions. Today we look through the systems, the administrators, the processes, and the contracts that these tools have to go through to end up in your classroom.
Show notes at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Free, open source textbooks and materials, known as OER (Open Educational Resources) are gaining traction across the United States and in California money is being pushed into community colleges to help them adapt to these materials. They're a benefit to students and can be a great way to customize content and delivery for teachers. Tim & Brent look at some of the reasons to consider OER, some of the resources out there, and how you might start incorporating OER into your classes.
Find show notes at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Brent and Tim dig into more tools you can look at that use AI as their basis for building your workflow. This is part 2 of a very incomprehensive list of tools. As always, there's more out there than we can possibly know about, so feel free to share if you've found something we missed!
Find more information and resources at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
There's been a flood of AI tools for all different purposes that have come out over the last 10 months. Brent and Tim cover some of the tools for different purposes around campus and some ideas on how they might work. Remember that these are coming a mile a minute, so no guarantees they'll be around forever!
Show notes and more at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
The world of Zoom Add-ons has grown a lot since it launched 2 years ago. Tim & Brent look at some of the options available and some of the things you might consider if you're hoping to get them installed on your campus.
For show notes and more information, please go to http://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Tim and Brent dive into creating Shadow Student accounts and Sandboxes and how you can use each independently and together to better work with Canvas and improve your students' experiences.
Find more information at TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
While many teachers may have been on break, the EdTech services certainly haven't. Here we do an overview of the updates that have come to our more commonly used tools including Canvas, DesignPlus, Screencast-o-Matic (now ScreenPal), and Class. Tune in to hear about what's changed and how they can help ease your workflow.
Find show notes and other episodes at http://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Big personal changes for both Tim & Brent, and the show still goes on! Let's catch up after a long summer away and review a few key ideas and things worth remembering as we step into the new semester!
More info and other episodes are available at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Tim & Brent wrap up the season with a brief review of favorite moments from the season, as well as some light advice to help step into summer.
We'll be back in August, so feel free to check out the back catalog at https://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com in the meantime!
Have you considered what a HyFlex classroom looks like and how it can work for your classroom or college? At IVC, a few intrepid teachers have worked with Tim to experiment with building a "mobile" HyFlex classroom before investing in a full-on classroom rebuild. Join in to hear Dr. David Bugay's experiences, successes, and failures as he has experimented with building out some of the first HyFlex classes at IVC's campus.
More info and other episodes are available at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Tim & Brent are doing a broad overview of an in-the-weeds topic: Canvas Trust. Canvas Trust allows students from across the California Community College district to log into their courses across campuses with a single log-in. Sounds simple, but in reality there are a lot of considerations. Log in to hear what it all means and how it might affect you as you deal with students, faculty, and other stakeholders.
More info and other episodes are available at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
As the conversation around AI continues, we wanted to hear about the uses and concerns of services like ChatGPT from a student perspective. IVC student Austin Wagner joined us to share about how he is using it and what he thinks about the concerns that are being brought up.
More info and other episodes are available at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
We've got Adam Lopez back to share updates on what's happening with IVC's Esports program and how students can leverage Esports as a career pathway. If you've got a career in mind, there's a link between it and Esports. Listen in to hear about how gaming can tap into any professional field.
As conference season approaches, we take a look at what physical tech (and non-tech) you should consider bringing with you to workshops & on vacation, as well as some simple ideas for things to have for online teaching and moving between physical classrooms. Listen in to hear if you're over-packing like the rest of us!
Canvas' Gradebook has a lot of features, both hidden or underutilized, that can help you out in your work. Tim & Brent take a look through a selection of them and discuss how they might be a benefit to teachers. Listen in to get some tips on improving your gradebook game!
The conversation about ChatGPT continues, this time moving from the theoretical to the practical. Tim & Brent sit down with Irvine Valley College writing professor, Academic Senate Vice President of Equity, and Academic Senate President Elect, Rebecca Beck to talk about specific ways and reasons teachers can and should incorporate ChatGPT into their classroom. Listen in for some awesome insights about how we teach our students, the value of critical thinking, and the need to develop a classroom culture of respect, all through the lens of working with AI Bots.
As always, please feel free to share with colleagues who may benefit from listening in to this conversation.
Tim & Brent dig into ChatGPT, Generative Text, and the implications it has for education and writing. With a topic this big, we reserve the right to change our minds!
Tim & Brent open the new year by looking at some lesser-known features tucked away in Canvas, as well as some new features recently released. Then they look at a long list of conferences that might be of interest to the HigherEdTech Podcast audience.
For show notes, please visit TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
If you're looking for last minute gift ideas for the techy teacher in your life (or if you just want to forward this episode to someone who knows YOU are the techy teacher), Brent & Tim explore some options for fun or for productivity. Let us know if we missed anything, and have a great break!
As the end of the semester approaches, Tim & Brent revisit some considerations before you start to wrap up your semester, and explore a few ideas on how you can get your prep on early for the spring semester.
Class Technologies works to blur the line between synchronous online learning and the physical classroom in a way we sometimes refer to as "Zoom on steroids". With features like in-app collaboration, viewing breakout rooms without entering, student control over who can see them, and more, it works on many problems we struggled with throughout the pandemic.
Tim & Brent sit down with Jason Bedford & Sagee Moyal at Class Technologies to discuss the future of online education and how Class.com has responded to the needs of teachers throughout the move to online, and during the shake out as some students return in person and others stay online.
A recent white paper put out by professors at MIT makes suggestions for what Higher Education institutions might look like in the future. Brent and Tim walk through the good, the bad, and the in-between.
Tim & Brent sit down with James Taylor at Pronto to discuss the chat service. They talk about the value of an embedded chat platform for building community, increasing communication, creating backchannels, and more. Listen in to hear some ideas and ways Pronto is used at IVC.
Today we're looking at how to prepare when the inevitable happens: Your Tech Dies! Whether it's a full blackout, a blown fuse, glitchy software, unreliable internet, or anything else, you're going to run into a time when your tech dies on you. In today's episode, we're looking at ways you can prepare for the inevitable to lower your stress and keep your class running (relatively) smoothly.
Shownotes available at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Today we're looking at how to prepare when the inevitable happens: Your Tech Dies! Whether it's a full blackout, a blown fuse, glitchy software, unreliable internet, or anything else, you're going to run into a time when your tech dies on you. In today's episode, we're looking at ways you can prepare for the inevitable to lower your stress and keep your class running (relatively) smoothly.
Shownotes available at www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
Tim & Brent look into some ways that you can use tech to save you time, reestablish your priorities, and possibly use... less tech? Listen in to hear some thoughts on how!
Tim & Brent look into some ways that you can use tech to save you time, reestablish your priorities, and possibly use... less tech? Listen in to hear some thoughts on how!
Brent & Tim look at the benefits and drawbacks of different document types, and consider some ways you might think about implementing them in your work life and in your classroom. Believe it or not, there are times when Word is better than Google Docs and vice versa. Listen in if you've had a history of sending out a jpg that should have been a pdf, or tried using a PDF that should have been a Google Doc.
http://www.thehigheredtechpodcast.com
What does it take to build a training center for faculty and staff? Do you need a multi-million dollar budget, or can you swing it with spare furniture and computers that have been tucked away? At IVC, Tim built a zero-cost center with some help from colleagues around campus. Listen in to hear why you might want a training center, considerations in planning it, and how to make it happen.
After a summer away, Tim & Brent return to discuss summer work and to take a look at some of the changes or new tools we're starting to implement.
We say goodbye to the 2021-2022 school year with a brief overview of season 3. We encourage you to listen in to see if there's anything you might have missed that you can catch up on over the summer. We're taking the summer off, and we hope you can, too!
We'll be back in August - see you then!
Many of us hear talk about changing our exams from the traditional, proctored setups, but how do we do it? There are options out there for all of us, and this episode we dig into some of the viable alternatives.
Tim & Brent look at some new tips for ending out your semester and prepping for fall early, as well as an overview of some useful outlook features you may not be aware of.
Tim & Brent take a look at some hardware that might help you in your classroom, whether that's on campus, or online.
Tim & Brent look at whiteboards whether they be digital, real-life, or blended together. Join in for a discussion on what digital whiteboards can do, how you might implement them, and some innovative uses for physical whiteboards, too!
Many of us are transitioning back into the physical classroom, but that doesn't mean we can't bring the best of what worked online with us. Listen in as Tim & Brent share some thoughts on how to effectively implement some of your best online practices into the in-person classroom.
Tim & Brent dive into some upcoming conferences with a variety of formats: In Person, Online, and Hybrid. They discuss pros and cons of each, and how to make the most of whichever you are attending as we continue adjusting to life with COVID protocols.
Brent & Tim look at creative ways to use Padlet across a wide variety of class types, from language, to writing, to science, to math, and beyond. If you've been thinking about trying out Padlet in your classroom, listen in for some ideas that can spark your next great idea!
Brent & Tim look at broader trends for 2022 and beyond, exploring personalized learning & teaching, closing the tech gap, the teacher-student relationship, the future of blended & hybrid learning, gamification, accessibility, and more.
To kick off the new semester, Tim & Brent sat down with Irvine Valley College's Vice President of Instruction, Dr. McDonald. He shared insights into the executive level decision making around issues like COVID, switching to online, supporting students and staff, and more.
This episode gives incredible insight into the responsibilities, choices, and thoughts at the Vice President level.
Tech has made a lot of ways of protecting student privacy easier, and at the same time a lot of new, never before considered issues have sprouted up. Brent & Tim are joined by Ruben Guzman, Irvine Valley College's Registrar, to talk about FERPA - the dos, the don'ts and the grey zones. While FERPA adherence may seem like a dry topic, Ruben makes it interesting and accessible. Listen in for insights and issues that can shine a light on this tricky topic.
As we approach the end of the semester, teachers and students are struggling with overwhelm and unease. Brent & Tim discuss some of the problems we're all facing, but we might not all talk about. Then, a brief revisit to best practices in wrapping up your semester.
There's a lot of digital debris out there, and we're looking at some ways to help you tidy up. In this episode, Brent & Tim explore cleaning up your desktop, your email, and your canvas in order to pursue a more zen - or at least a less chaotic - digital lifestyle.
Brent & Tim take a look at what Zoom Apps are and discuss a few of the choices available to upgrade your Zoom classes. Then, a discussion on prepping your Canvas for the spring semester: the dos, the don'ts, and the think-about-its.
As more college professors are returning to campus we're looking at what a proper Lecture Capture room can do for you, and the considerations you should make before stepping into one. Also, a review of the top 40 EdTech tools accessed by students and educators across the US.
Tim & Brent look at tools to help you build straightforward tutorials for your students, and why you might want these instead of repurposing a screen recorder. Then, a reflection on the pros and cons of synchronous teaching, and a consideration of whether this will continue to be the way forward.
We're shifting gears and looking at practical applications of Microsoft products in the classroom. Today we're focusing on OneNote, a popular way for students and teachers to organize their ideas, and Teams, Microsoft's communication platform. Listen in as we discuss practical applications in the classroom and on campus!
We're back with Nick Wilkening, Director of Technology Services at Irvine Valley College. Nick shares what's been going on behind the scenes with IT at IVC and how other tech leaders can make changes on campus with programs like Laptop Loans, OS updates, Print Machine refreshes, Closed Captioning, and more.
As we step into the first classes of the semester, Brent & Tim discuss all the updates that have happened over the summer on the most used platforms. We're talking Google, Microsoft, Canvas, Zoom, and more! Get caught up with the changes you'll see when you warm up your computers for fall.
We sit down with IVC president Dr. John Hernandez to talk campus life, culture, tech, and the future of education. Listen in to hear his thoughts on connecting with faculty, staff, and students, and hear how he wears his heart on his sleeve on matters that are personal to him.
In the last episode of the year, Brent & Tim cover what needs to go into the planning of a conference, whether it be small or medium in scale (a lot more needs to go into the ones for thousands and thousands of people). Then, to wrap up the season, a brief look back at the year.
Show Notes at TheHigherEdTechPodcast.com
Brent and Tim share some tools and thoughts about annotating in 2021 as there are a lot of great ways to annotate these days, and the ideas move beyond just PDFs. Today you can annotate just about anything that goes on your screen! Next, they share some considerations to keep in mind as you look at your transition back to campus or make decisions on what your classes will look like with a new set of student expectations.
Adobe offers a powerful set of tools, but not everybody can afford it, nor do they need anything so robust. Tim & Brent discuss some alternative options that will help you get the job done. Next, a conversation on the ever-more accessible world of stock photos and where to get good quality pics.
Tim & Brent talk about some troubleshooting issues, and how to prepare for them so they're less disastrous when they inevitably strike. First, a conversation about how to deal with losing access to your live class, then some thoughts on how to prepare for the reality that digital storage isn't really unlimited or free.
There's a lot of talk around Discord in Education recently, and certainly a lot of fear-mongering. Adam Lopez is right back with us, this time to talk about how he's using Discord to run his classes. Adam shares his perspective using it as a student-centered community platform that engages and inspires students!
Brent & Tim sit down with IVC's Esports Coordinator, Adam Lopez. Adam helps us understand what esports is, its role in academics, and the social emotional benefits to its players. This talk is a great primer for anyone who wants to understand more about esports, or is considering creating a program on their campus.
In this episode Tim & Brent take a look at some considerations you might want to make in recording and editing videos, as well as some software that can help you get it done. Then, a conversation about making changes with tech in your class from the big stuff like switching platforms, to integrating new tools.
Tim & Brent cover Padlet, a popular virtual bulletin board program that allows students to quickly and easily interact and share ideas in a collaborative space. Then they talk about the ins and outs of building a Captioning Program that has a fast turnaround and is compliant with accessibility laws. Please feel free to share if your school is trying to build such a program.
Brent & Tim chat with Irvine Valley College's Director of Technology Services to talk about the responsibilities, daily duties, and unexpected events involved with campus IT. Join us for this laid back conversation where Nick shares how it all went down with his tenure starting just before campus shutdown.
To kick off the new year, Tim & Brent look at some of the things we might take for granted when designing a syllabus, and then turn to some ways we can be more creative and inclusive with the tech available to us in a digital syllabus.
As we move toward the winter break, some of you may be considering a project to do in your down time, or possibly introducing something new next semester. Brent & Tim talk about the possibilities around adding podcasting into your life.
Then, in preparation for the last weeks of class, let's look at some ways you can engage your students with some fun activities and maybe even a party!
There are a lot of options for using AI to transcribe your classes live, and a growing number of incredibly powerful options for translating on the fly. Tim & Brent look at some of your choices for transcription and translation.
Then, a new legal opinion has come out from the California Community Colleges about requirements for Camera-On in classes. What are some of the ways teachers can deal with this?
After a long October of PD organizations moving their conferences online, Brent & Tim reflect on the pros and cons of digital conferences, often examining two sides of the same coin. They also look at MOOC options and recommendations for personal development through online courses.
Brent & Tim sit down with Allison Dillard, professor of Math at Irvine Valley College to talk math, tech, student engagement, and more. She also shares a bit about her new math-centered podcast, The Allison Loves Math Podcast!
With many California colleges and universities announcing plans to stay online in spring 2021, it's valuable to see what campuses may start to look like with reduced staff on campus, and adjusted facilities. Brent & Tim explore some of the current conversations and possibilities. Then, a look at making sure you make the best choices for filling out your home office.
Tim & Brent take an unexpectedly deep dive into all of the functions and tricks around screen sharing. There's a lot more going on than you may be aware of. Join in for some tips and tricks as well as some beta functionality!
This episode examines some of the considerations, tools, and techniques professors need to think about as they make the decision to go synchronous or asynchronous with their classes. Next, we take a brief look at Google Meet, some of its benefits and drawbacks, and what's coming soon that will help improve it.
Tim & Brent discuss how Irvine Valley College has set up Lecture Capture Rooms which allow professors to come to campus to teach and record in a traditional classroom, just without the students. Then they look at the "new" version of Zoom for the California Community Colleges, TechConnect Zoom.
Brent & Tim Kick off the new semester, looking at an overview of changes in the college system due to COVID19, and some expectations for the new school year.
Note that the HigherEdTech Podcast is now going to be released on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month instead of the 2nd and 4th.
Brent and Tim are taking the summer off from recording, and so we've decided to share the love and feature some of our fellow education podcasters. Just like summer school, there's still plenty to learn, but your teachers might be a little different. The first summer school session features an episode of Tosas Talking Tech focusing on podcasting itself.
We hope you enjoy it!
Today's episode is a summer session - a little shorter than normal, but covers some good visual changes teachers may see when they're ready to open Canvas back up. Canvas has rolled out their new Rich Content Editor with some pluses and some minuses, and we also look at a service called DesignPLUS to help create a more streamlined and intuitive visual process through Canvas class design.
Brent & Tim explore some of the ways schools might work when we bring students back on campus, including classroom redesign, split schedules, and more. They also look at some of the best things you can do during the summer to step prepare for the fall semester.
With all the new technology people are trying out in their classes, it's important to be aware of best practices when integrating them for the first time. Brent and Tim talk about the rapid changes, and also discuss the use of Canvas' Peer Review feature.
With so much up in the air, Brent & Tim look at what the new "rules" are for your classes? Do you need to do everything the same online as you did offline? Should your classes be synchronous or asynchronous? What should you look out for in the switch? We look at all of these questions, plus throw a few ideas out on what to do when you're not working.
Now that the whole world has gone online, and a vast majority of professors have jumped onto Zoom, Tim & Brent cover a few things to be aware of, including #Zoombombing, useful settings, and best practices.
Brent and Tim discuss the impending changes that the Coronavirus is bringing to many college campuses and consider some of the issues that come with a disaster of global proportions.
As many colleges and universities move to an online option, there are a number of things that educators need to take into consideration. We hope this episode helps guide you to smart and informed decisions.
Brent & Tim discuss some of the possibilities of what iPads in the college classroom might have to offer. They then move into looking at VR and considering some possibilities for better engaging students.
Tim & Brent look at what happens when everybody starts hitting "Reply-All" instead of just letting things be. This leads to a conversation about e-mail etiquette and best practices. Then they jump in to some great new updates to Canvas.
Brent & Tim talk with Sue Germer, co-founder of PlayPosit. This interactive video tool helps create tons of engagement amongst students and is easy to use. Sue shares the history, how students have helped her, and unique ways that teachers are using PlayPosit.
Brent & Tim start the new year and the new semester by sharing a number of conferences that might be of interest to EdTech minded professors. Next, they look at some tips for how to start your new semester smoothly.
Tim gives an overview of the recent DET/CHE (Directors of Educational Technology / California Higher Education) Conference, and then both Brent & Tim share some end of semester tips.
Tim & Brent discuss how quickly you should be responding to your students in the age of instant gratification. Is there such thing as time for yourself anymore? Then they move on to share some techniques for customizing your Canvas Courses to better appeal to your students.
Brent and Tim share some ideas for holiday gifts that may or may not be reasonably priced, and Cheryl Bailey returns to share about the Online Education Task Force, what it does, and how it can help teachers.
For a short Thanksgiving episode, Brent & Tim share some useful Google Plugins that can help save time and productivity for teachers with busy schedules.
Tim shares the IT side of things when teachers grumble about safety and security requirements, letting us know why certain systems are in place, and how to best deal with these rules when we can't stop them.
We then talk about using Poll Everywhere for various polling and temperature gauging purposes to have a better understanding of your class, what they do and don't understand, and where they need more help.
Brent and Tim bring their gear into the Carolina Kussoy's Social Media Marketing Class to share how podcasting works with students, and then to hear from them about what they do and don't like when teachers integrate tech (or fail to do so) in the classroom.
This episode features short Q&A sessions with current Irvine Valley College students who give real feedback about what they think about their classes.
We then pull professor Kussoy aside to share her thoughts on using technology, getting better with it, and understanding student needs and expectations.
Please share this special episode with teachers to hear what students really think about what does and doesn't work in the modern classroom.
In this episode, Brent reviews his experiences and highlights at the Fall CUE conference in Sacramento and explains more about what the organization does and aims to achieve.
Next, Brent and Tim interview Jeff Mills of Grackle Docs, a Google / Gsuite add on that helps ensure accessibility in all of your documents. Jeff explains how accessibility doesn't have to be a mountain to overcome, but that it can be an easy part of your document design process. You can find out more at grackledocs.com
Happy Halloween! For our spooky 13th episode, Tim and Brent talk about the horrors of when technology goes wrong, including highlights from the twitterverse!
In the second segment, we focus in on better utilizations of discussion boards for higher engagement.
Stay scary out there!
Today we look at what Google Add-ons are, and how you can use them for your own classroom needs. We also look at a variety of techniques you can use with presentation software like PowerPoint and Google Slides in order to be more effective and to avoid the dreaded "Death by Powerpoint".
Michelle Pacansky-Brock of the California Virtual Campus - Online Education Initiative comes on the show to tell Tim & Brent about the Can Innovate online conference. Listen in as she explains the history of CVC OEI and how the conference can help teachers teaching online and offline.
Make sure to register for the conference if your school isn't already planning on holding a viewing, there are a lot of great speakers!
Brent and Tim welcome in their first interview, IVC Library Chair Cheryl Bailey. Cheryl breaks some misconceptions about what librarians do, and shares thoughts on how both students and teachers can better take advantage of the library's service.
This episode winds up the mini-series on quizzing platforms for formative assessment by looking at Gimkit, a flashcard based program with a unique twist.
Brent & Tim get timely with the options available in Canvas Calendar. We look at ways to organize your classes, make assignments, share events, and help your students improve their time management skills. We also continue our series on options for quizzing with Quizlet, which has some excellent options for collaborative learning unlike any of the other platforms we've looked at so far.
While there is a lot of tech available to choose from, overwhelmed teachers may not make the best decisions when preparing for their classes. Brent and Tim discuss some of the things teachers should be thinking about before they make their choices on what tech to integrate. Additionally, to continue the quizzing series, we look at Canvas' "New Quizzes," formerly called "Quizzes.Next"
In episode 7 of the Higher EdTech Podcast, Brent and Tim discuss the roles and responsibilities of an Instructional Technologist, how it is different from IT (Information Technology) and Instructional Design. They also jump into the unique options afforded in Quizizz in part 2 of the mini-series on low stakes quizzing and formative assessment.
Brent and Tim dive into having a better understanding of how to use Canvas Analytics to better understand and serve your students. They also begin a series on quizzing options in the classroom, starting with Kahoot, the classic fast-paced challenge game to engage students and check for understanding.
Tim and Brent take a look at a highly functional but often overlooked tool in Canvas - the Gradebook. With a newly updated gradebook, there are a lot of excellent features that teachers can use to support their students and help them succeed. In part 2, we jump into a primer on Flipgrid. While Flipgrid is huge in K-12, it may be severely overlooked in Higher Education, and some of the new functionality may have professors willing to take a deeper look into how it can improve their classes.
Tim and Brent discuss video databases and their uses for the classroom, as well as how to choose the best database for your purposes. They also discuss ideas for combating plagiarism in the classroom in addition to using services like Turnitin and Google's new plagiarism checker.
In this episode, Tim and Brent discuss best practices for using video in the classroom, including resources available to make videos, and techniques for engaging students. They also look at Google's new integration for Canvas - Course Kit. They compare the pros and cons, and see how it works in comparison to Google Classroom.
Tim and Brent discuss the highlights of the Online Teaching Conference that took place during the summer, as well as sharing the basics of GSuite for Education. Since GSuite was recently launched at Irvine Valley College, we look at a few ways to consider integrating it into your courses.
Tim and Brent dig into why EdTech is an important but often glossed over idea in Higher Education. Colleges and Universities often pay lip service to technology integration, but don't always show the support that instructors need to thrive in the modern environment. Tim and Brent invite you to join in to get to know the basics and the goals of the show both for their own campus and beyond. They also share what you can expect in the future, and how learning a little can move your classroom a lot.