CTI Teaching & Innovations Podcast

Southern Utah University, Matthew McKenzie, Tony Pellegrini

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Join hosts Tony Pellegrini and Matt McKenzie as they explore topics surrounding higher education, Southern Utah University, and the area of teaching & learning.

12/30/2024

Affordable Learning Materials with Chris Younkin (Part 2)

The podcast features Dr. Chris Younkin discussing his research on affordable learning materials at Southern Utah University (SUU). Based on a Fall 2023 survey with 186 respondents, at least 9% of SUU courses (269 sections) use affordable learning materials, including 176 sections specifically using Open Educational Resources (OERs). Younkin emphasizes targeting high-enrollment general education courses for OER adoption to maximize student savings and highlights ongoing efforts to create a statewide hub through the Utah Education Network for sharing OER resources across institutions. While acknowledging the challenges of switching from traditional textbooks, including course redesign requirements, Younkin emphasizes the importance of faculty collaboration, copyright compliance, and starting small when transitioning to affordable materials. He outlines future plans to expand OER adoption at SUU through department outreach, faculty training, and establishing a working group, all while keeping student affordability at the forefront given rising costs of education and living expenses.

27 min
12/16/2024

Affordable Learning Materials with Chris Younkin (Part 1)

In this episode of Southern Utah University's teaching and learning podcast, host Matt McKenzie speaks with Chris Younkin, a scholarly communication librarian, about making college more affordable through learning materials. Younkin, drawing from his own experiences as a non-traditional student, discusses various initiatives including the T-bird textbooks collection (which provides free short-term textbook loans), open educational resources (OER), and inclusive access programs. He emphasizes that textbook costs are often an unexpected burden for students, ranking as the third highest college expense after tuition and housing. The discussion reveals both opportunities and challenges in making educational materials more accessible, with Younkin advocating for faculty to utilize available resources, including his expertise in navigating OER repositories, to help reduce costs for students while maintaining or improving educational quality.

25 min
12/05/2024

Academic Publishing with Dr. Saunders (Part 2)

Join us as we dive into the evolving relationship between faculty and students with disabilities at Southern Utah University. We explore how new accommodations, especially for mental health challenges like anxiety and depression, are being integrated into both in-person and online classrooms. Faculty members share their experiences, challenges, and successes in creating a more inclusive learning environment. Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or student, this conversation sheds light on the practical ways we can better support all learners. Don’t miss this insightful episode!

29 min
11/25/2024

Academic Publishing with Dr. Saunders (Part 1)

In this excerpt from the Center for Teaching Innovation Podcast, Matt McKenzie introduces Dr. Richard Saunders, a professor at Southern Utah University with a background in academic publishing. Saunders shares his experience working in the academic and commercial publishing sectors and discusses how scholarly publishing has dramatically shifted in the last 15 years, particularly with the move to digital platforms. They touch on the changes in accessing scholarly materials, with digital access largely replacing print journals, and the rise of predatory publishers. Saunders emphasizes the importance of understanding one's field and selecting the right journal for publishing. He advises aspiring scholars to focus on where their work best fits and not worry about prestige initially, highlighting the value of peer review and clear, reader-focused writing.

21 min
11/14/2024

Industry Partners in Higher Education

In this episode of the Center for Teaching Innovation Podcast, Matt McKenzie interviews Aimee DiBrienza, the Assistant Director of Adult and Workforce Education at Southern Utah University's (SUU) Community and Workforce Development Program. They discuss the benefits of partnering with local businesses and industry leaders to enhance students' academic experiences. Aimee shares how SUU collaborates with companies like Best Friends Animal Society and various advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity organizations to create programs that align with industry needs. These partnerships help students acquire practical skills and sometimes lead to SUU degree programs, making education more accessible and impactful, especially for adult learners balancing careers and personal lives. The conversation highlights the importance of customizing curriculum based on industry demands and adult learners' schedules, with a focus on short-form courses that fit their busy lives.

22 min
11/04/2024

Season 8, Episode 6: Are Teaching Unions Bad? Learning More About AFT at SUU

In this episode, we explore teaching unions in higher education. Dr. Brianne Kramer and Dr. Gretchen Ellefson are two active American Federation of Teachers (AFT) members at Southern Utah University. They discuss the benefits of teaching unions not just for faculty and staff but for students as well.

32 min
10/25/2024

Season 8, Episode 5: SUU's Office of Student Outreach & Support

The Student Outreach & Support (SOS) Office at Southern Utah University provides support, non-clinical interventions, advocacy, and referrals for students experiencing challenges in their personal and academic lives. The Student Outreach & Support team is comprised of non-clinical case managers who meet with students to gain an understanding of their needs and to identify personal strengths. In this episode, we learn more how learners and faculty can benefit from SUU's Student Outreach & Support office.

31 min
09/05/2024

Season 8, Episode 4: Pre-learning Strategies with Chelsea Gambles (Part 2)

In Part 2 of our conversation with Chelsea Gambles, we continue to discuss the impact pre-learning strategies have on our learners. As part of this conversation, we discuss the right to self-determination, the timing of pre-learning strategies, and learner choice.

19 min

See All (60)

Join hosts Tony Pellegrini and Matt McKenzie as they explore topics surrounding higher education, Southern Utah University, and the area of teaching & learning.

Creator

Southern Utah University, Matthew McKenzie, Tony Pellegrini
Years Active

2019 - 2024
Episodes

60
Rating

Clean
Show Website

CTI Teaching & Innovations Podcast

CTI Teaching & Innovations Podcast

Episodes

Affordable Learning Materials with Chris Younkin (Part 2)

Affordable Learning Materials with Chris Younkin (Part 1)

Academic Publishing with Dr. Saunders (Part 2)

Academic Publishing with Dr. Saunders (Part 1)

Industry Partners in Higher Education

Season 8, Episode 6: Are Teaching Unions Bad? Learning More About AFT at SUU

Season 8, Episode 5: SUU's Office of Student Outreach & Support

Season 8, Episode 4: Pre-learning Strategies with Chelsea Gambles (Part 2)

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