Pedagogo ExamSoftMedia

As Pedagogo Season 4 comes to a close, we look back at this season’s exploration of community building and highlight themes from our conversations with higher ed leaders, DEI champions, and social activists, as well as non-profit and industry leaders. Join Dr. Divya Bheda as she reflects on this season’s topics, explores the potential for growth and nourishment in the communities we are rooted in, and provides action items to help put these ideas into practice. 

Guest: Dr. Ereka Williams
Our identities connect us to a vast webwork of community which informs our perspectives and our relationships. By minding these connections to our communities, we can create spaces for fellow community members in higher ed decision-making. Learn ways that higher ed leaders and faculty can come together to support the communities we share, and learn strategies to inculcate democratic values in higher ed to promote the shared success of every stakeholder.
This episode explores:
The values and beliefs within our communities that underlie ideas and solutionsWhy centering language and culture is essential to supporting our communities The importance of looking at the data that drives decision-making through a human lensCommunity-centric methods to positively impact student outcomes, in the classroom and beyond

Guest: Dr. Kate McConnell
There’s more to creating a community than bringing together individuals with a shared purpose or identity; the success of a community depends on the skills and values of those individuals who choose to build and sustain it. As educators, how can we model and teach the core abilities required to create successful communities? Learn how bringing principles of civic engagement to the classroom can positively impact student outcomes and help to instill the attitudes and dispositions that contribute to healthy communities.
This episode explores:
The importance of human interaction and collaboration to build and sustain communityProviding positive examples for students to build and sustain impactful communitiesTeaching tools and strategies to connect learning outcomes to civic-engagement skillsBuilding respect and trust in collaboration to reach authentic consensus in higher ed

Guest: Dr. Craig Pepin
The pandemic era has led us to discover new channels of communication, which have connected us across the country and around the world. But what essential aspects of pre-pandemic community are missing in our most task-oriented virtual spaces? Learn about the opportunities and responsibilities we share, as well as the challenges and limitations we face, as members of virtual and in-person communities. See how we can drive innovation while supporting the shared mission and vision of the community.
This episode explores:
The role that community plays for professional organizations in higher educationPrioritizing human connection and relationship building within work communitiesThe nuances of networking and community, as well as collaboration and consensusCivility, transparency, and equity as key principles to build impactful communities

Guests: Dr. Kathleen Doll and Dr. Albertina Lopez
Community is an essential aspect of our lives. It provides a safe, welcoming space to connect with those who share our values while also challenging us to consider new perspectives. We need community to achieve our goals — both individually and as a society — and when we build our communities with intention, we can create the momentum necessary to move the needle on social change. Learn how community and collective action work together to build and sustain movements towards equity and justice — in higher education and beyond.
This episode explores:
The meaning and function of community in academia and social justice workThe role of community in higher education as it relates to student successBest practices to create purpose-driven communities and sustain momentumBeing intentional in building nurturing and equitable communities

Guest: Dr. John Broome

Communication can be challenging in higher education. From institution to institution — and even within the same institution — differences in power, position, or pedigree can impede effective communication. But the pandemic era ushered in new channels of communication that have allowed those from higher ed to connect and share ideas from anywhere in the world, at any time of day, and irrespective of differences. Hear from the creator of the online group, Higher Ed Learning Collective, and learn how this space has evolved since the outset of the pandemic.
This episode explores:
Adapting to the needs of higher ed communities — in the pandemic era and beyondConsiderations for encouraging productive communication in online communitiesThe key role community moderators serve to promote equity and social justiceThe importance of leadership and organizational structure to sustain common goals