Distance Learning Roundtable: Recent Episodes
Inkandescent Radio
Join us monthly to learn about the future of online education in this powerful podcast series hosted by Pat Cassella, executive director of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), and Dean Hoke, managing partner Edu Alliance.
August 2, 2024—The US Distance Learning Association is thrilled to launch a new tradition: Each First Friday of the month, we will spotlight one of our state chapters. To get us started: USDLA welcomes its newest state chapter, the Delmarva Digital Learning Association, and its founder, Dr. Alexandra Salas. She joins forces with two leaders from Wilmington, DE-based Goldey-Beacom College — Deanna M. Merritt, Ph.D. SHRM-CP, Faculty, Management & Marketing Director, Center for Professional Development & Partnerships and Russell Michalak,Click here to listen to the podcast!
Having been virtually meeting for more than 36 years, John can juggle 16 screens of information at a time. He has planned the only 100% LIVE virtual conference in the training industry for 1,200 people and produced a six-language virtual webinar. He is a recognized thought leader on engaging virtual meetings and the John Wiley and Sons author of “Engaging Virtual Meetings” and “50 Digital Team Building Games,” top-selling business books. John’s work has earned him multiple awards. John’s 300,000+ clientsClick here to listen to the podcast!
Congratulations on an amazing year of leadership to outgoing president Chuck Sengstock — and to incoming president Valary Oleinik. Don’t miss our interview about Chuck’s takeaways, and Valary’s plans for the coming year. Learn more about the United States Distance Learning Association at HTTP://www.usdla.org.
April 2024: A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, communications director, US Distance Learning Association (USDLA) — Please join us for this month’s episode of our new USDLA Free Friday Webinar hosted by USDLA president-elect Valary Oleinik. Meet our guest: Dr. Pam DeGuzman, Nurse Scientist at UVA Health and an Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Virginia School of Nursing Today’s Topic: Implementing Telemedicine in Libraries: Barriers and Strategies for Success About the webinar: Public libraries offering telemedicine provide aClick here to listen to the podcast!
January 2024: A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, communications director, US Distance Learning Association (USDLA) — Please join us for this month’s episode of our podcast and video show, Distance Learning Roundtable, when, for 30 minutes, we gain insights from industry experts. Meet our guests: Dr. Heather F. Perfetti, president of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), and Nicole Biever, the organization’s Chief of Staff Today’s Topic: The importance of credentialing for US colleges — and what the futureClick here to listen to the podcast!
August 2023: A Note from USDLA executive director Pat Cassella and Edu Alliance Group exec Dean Hoke — We invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of our podcast and video show, Distance Learning Roundtable, where for 30 minutes, we gain insights from industry experts. Meet our guest: Monica Cornetti, Founder and President of Sententia Gamification Today’s Topic: The Art of Game-Based Learning Pat and Dean have 10 Questions for Monica: How has gamified and game-based learning evolved inClick here to listen to the podcast!
July 2023: A Note from USDLA executive director Pat Cassella and Edu Alliance Group exec Dean Hoke — We invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of our podcast and video show, Distance Learning Roundtable, where for 30 minutes, we gain insights from industry experts. Meet our guest: Freedom Writers Founder Erin Gruwell Today’s Topic: The Power and Impact of Freedom Writers About our Guest: Freedom Writers Founder Erin Gruwell — A teacher, author, and activist fighting for socialClick here to listen to the podcast!
June 2023: A Note from USDLA executive director Pat Cassella and Edu Alliance Group exec Dean Hoke — We invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of our podcast and video show, Distance Learning Roundtable where for 30 minutes, we gain insights from industry experts. Meet our guest: Dr. Robert A. Alsop, president of Waldorf University Today’s Topic: Waldorf University’s Master of Education in Social-Emotional Learning About this episode: Waldorf has become a pioneer in online education for educators,Click here to listen to the podcast!
May 1, 2023: A Note from USDLA executive director Pat Cassella and Edu Alliance Group exec Dean Hoke — We invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of our podcast and video show, Higher Ed Without Borders where for 30 minutes, we gain insights from industry experts. Meet our guest: Amrit Ahluwalia, editor-in-chief at The EvoLLLution: A Modern Campus Illumination Today’s Topic: Bucking Enrollment Trends to Grow in a Challenging Environment About this episode: The higher education space has experienced significantClick here to listen to the podcast!
April 1, 2023: A Note from USDLA executive director Pat Cassella and Edu Alliance Group exec Dean Hoke — We invite you to tune in for episode 7 of our podcast and video show, Higher Ed Without Borders, where for 30 minutes, we gain insights from industry experts. Meet our guest: Jennifer Williams, Executive Director, Take Action Global and Transformational Leader in Education Today’s Topic: Get Ready for Change – Instructional Design Practices Through Meaningful Uses of Technology About this episode: At the heart of innovationClick here to listen to the podcast!
March 1, 2023: A Note from USDLA executive director Pat Cassella and Edu Alliance Group exec Dean Hoke — We invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of our podcast and video show, Distance Learning Roundtable, where for 30 minutes we gain insights from industry experts. Meet this month’s guests — Kate Colbert and Joe Sallustio, authors of the hottest book to hit higher ed, Commencement Today’s Topic: The New Era of Education Dean and Pat ask the authors: Dean: Let’sClick here to listen to the podcast!
A Note from USDLA executive director Pat Cassella and Edu Alliance Group exec Dean Hoke— We invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of our podcast and video show, Distance Learning Roundtable, where for 30 minutes, we gain insights from industry experts. Today’s Topic: How K-12 educators dealt with the pandemic and what the future of learning looks like for America’s superintendents Dean and Pat ask Peter: Dean: Tell our viewers and listeners about the Falls Church Public City Schools.Click here to listen to the podcast!
January 2023: A Note from USDLA executive director Pat Cassella and Edu Alliance Group exec Dean Hoke — We invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of our podcast and video show, Distance Learning Roundtable, where for 30 minutes, we gain insights from industry experts. Meet our guest: Lee Gambol, Distance Learning Coordinator at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Today’s Topic: How Lee is embracing the idea of “Backslash Forward” by celebrating the past and embracing the future of distanceClick here to listen to the podcast!
December 2022: A Note from USDLA executive director Pat Cassella and Edu Alliance Group exec Dean Hoke — We invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of our podcast and video show, Distance Learning Roundtable, where for 30 minutes, we gain insights from industry experts. Meet our guest: Dr. Jennie Sanders, Vice President of Faculty Experience and Academic Services at Western Governors University based in Salt Lake City, Utah Today’s Topic: How Western Governors University was ahead of the PandemicClick here to listen to the podcast!
November 2022: A Note from USDLA executive director Pat Cassella and Edu Alliance Group exec Dean Hoke — We invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of our podcast and video show, Distance Learning Roundtable, where for 30 minutes, we gain insights from industry experts. Hello and welcome to the November episode of our monthly podcast and video show starring Elliott Masie, the founder of MASIE Innovations. Based in Saratoga Springs, NY, Elliott focused on how organizations can support learning and knowledgeClick here to listen to the podcast!
A Note from the Hosts: Pat Cassella, executive director of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), and Dean Hoke, managing partner of the international organization Edu Alliance.
Hello and welcome to the November episode of our monthly podcast and video show starring Elliott Masie, the founder of MASIE Innovations. Based in Saratoga Springs, NY, Elliott focused on how organizations can support learning and knowledge within the workforce. He leads the Learning COLLABORATIVE, which members include Amazon, Zoom, Bank of America, Subway, The Hartford, and others. He is a regular columnist and author of 12 books, including the ASTD/MASIE Center’s Big Learning Data, “Learning Pivots,” and “Empathy.” Elliott's professional focus has been on corporate learning, organizational performance, and emerging technology. He has developed models for accelerating the spread of knowledge, learning, and collaboration throughout organizations. Elliott is an advisor to a wide range of government, education, and non-profit groups. including the Department of Defense, served on the White House Advisory Council on Expanding Learning Opportunities, and as a CIA University Board of Visitors member. Elliott is also a Tony Nominated Broadway Producer.
Today, we ask Elliott:
- In a recent interview, Peter Wells, Chief for higher education for UNESCO said that “the pandemic changed attitudes about online learning in the education community worldwide. During these two years, we took a leap forward of 10 years where teaching and learning online is publicly accepted.” Would you agree with that view and give us your thoughts?
- Expectations have changed since the pandemic, both for the learner and the instructor. Can you first discuss how the learner has changed and what the challenges there are for the instructor?
- Many Educational Ministries outside the West have been reluctant about distance learning and integrating it into the future. What would you say to these government leaders about why they should fully embrace eLearning into their educational curriculum?
- USDLA has known you for many years, and you have been considered one of the great advocates and leaders in the field of eLearning since the beginning. What has surprised you about how it has evolved, or did it go according to plan? Also, what do you think will be the next big thing?
- You have been actively involved in Broadway plays and musicals for several years. What attracted you to the theatre, and are there things you learned in your work in the theatre that you can apply to the trainers, content producers, and managers who work in the field of education?
- In preparation for the show, we listened to several of your interviews. In particular, one question struck me. The question was, what advice would you give to your 21-year-old self? Can you speak to that question for our audience?
Don't miss this thought-provoking episode! — Pat and Dean
October 2022: A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, producer, Inkandescent Radio — Hello and welcome to the first episode of the Distance Learning Roundtable show on the Inkandescent Radio Network. As the show's producer, I am thrilled to introduce you to the hosts of our newest program — Distance Learning Roundtable, the podcast and video show where experts gather to discuss the future of online education.
Today you will meet the show’s hosts: Pat Cassella, the executive director of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), and Dean Hoke, managing partner of the international organization Edu Alliance.
You'll learn about:
- USDLA and its mission, Pat's work, and how he became the executive director of this important organization
- Dean and the goals of Edu Alliance
- Their exciting show we are launching this month, October 2022, and what inspired them to create it
- Their upcoming guests
- USDLA's upcoming event, National Distance Learning Week, which will be held Nov. 7-11
- Parting thoughts about the future of online learning and how this show will help podcast listeners and video viewers better understand the immense power of distance learning.
Don't miss it!
About Pat Cassella:
Pat Cassella has been a presence within the high-tech industry for more than 30 years with leadership roles in Sales, Marketing, Product Development and Engineering. He has been involved with the USDLA for more than 15 years and is the Executive Director for the association. Pursuing his passion for engineering, he earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Bridgeport and a Master’s of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of New Haven. He has spent the past 20+ years within the IP video communications market as a sales, marketing and product architect within the Government, Education, Corporate and Medical markets.
He is the founder of ETC Video, an educational technology consulting company, and current Vice President of Worldwide Sales for VDO360, a leading manufacturers of cameras and communication equipment. He is a strong educational proponent and frequent speaker in promoting the use of digital video and advanced technologies in today’s classrooms and businesses. He is the CEO and Executive Director of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) and an active participant in the distance learning and telepresence community.
He began his career at the Norden Systems division of United Technologies designing and testing radar subsystems for F4 airborne applications. He has held senior positions at Interactive Digital Solutions, Discover Video, Entrata Communications and in the ATM broadband division at General Datacomm. developing their first and second-generation communication platforms. He has extensive signaling protocol experience and holds several narrowband to broadband signaling inter-working patents. Prior to starting ETC Video he was the Vice President of Educational Markets at VBrick Systems where he was responsible for their IP video product strategy, focusing on IP video ecosystems and their E-Rate program across all target verticals.
Pat resides in the coastal community of Ormond By The Sea, FL with his wife Sandy and rescued pets Player and Salem. He has served on past several community boards and is an active volunteer. His hobbies include motorcycle instruction and riding, educational technology development, civic event volunteering, sports, fishing, home networking technology and animal rescue.
Learn more at USDLA.org. About Dean: Based in Bloomington, Indiana, and the United Arab Emirates, Dean is the Managing Partner of Edu Alliance Group , Dean has decades of progressively responsible and visionary leadership roles in higher education, communications & online learning. He has led numerous initiatives that have created innovation & positive change in the higher education & non-profit sector. Dean began his career in 1975 with Bellarmine University working in various roles, including admissions and external relations. In 1983 he entered the broadcasting field, serving as a senior executive for Public Broadcasting System stations and a cable network. In 1998 he co-founded The Connected Learning Network, a full-service online learning company. In 2009 accepted an invitation to move to the United Arab Emirates serving in senior positions at Higher Colleges of Technology & Khalifa University before co-founding Edu Alliance in 2014.
He participates in numerous advisory & consulting projects in the fields of international education, branding, business intelligence, and online learning. He is an active speaker and writer in global higher education and distance learning. Dean has presented and written on leadership, higher education, and distance learning worldwide.
Dean is currently Chairperson Elect of the American Association of University Administrators, an Advisory Board member of the Franklin University School of Education, and a member of the United States Distance Learning Association, in which he previously served as President-Elect and Chaired the International Partnership Committee.
Mr. Hoke has a B.A. from Urbana University, an M.S. from the University of Louisville, and a Certificate in Executive Management from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School.
Click here to connect with Dean on LinkedIn.