The Prof Talk Pod: Practical Strategies and Conversations for College Professors

The Engaged Professor
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Prof Talk Pod, hosted by Dr. Becky Achen, shares practical strategies, real-world examples, and conversations for college professors and higher education professionals. Explore college teaching, student engagement, course design, assessment, generative AI, educational technology, faculty development, academic careers, leadership, and teaching innovation. Each episode offers useful ideas to strengthen your teaching, navigate change, and grow professionally.

  1. 1d ago

    Michigan’s Pass/Fail Grade Pilot

    Co-hosts Becky and Katie discuss the announcement that the University of Michigan is piloting pass/fail grading for some first-semester freshmen starting fall 2027. They talk about Michigan’s stated goals of reducing student stress and mental health strain and encouraging academic exploration, while raising questions about equity (why only one college and one semester), whether students should have choice, and potential downstream impacts on prerequisites and professional pathways like med school, law school, and CPA eligibility. They also compare the idea to ungrading/specs grading research, note differences across institutions like Caltech and MIT, and reflect on polarized public reactions and broader skepticism toward higher education. https://www.npr.org/2026/08/12/nx-s1-5928197/university-michigan-freshmen-letter-grades-pilot-fall-2027 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/08/14/university-michigan-new-grading-policy-freshmen-deserves-an-f/ https://www.today.com/video/university-of-michigan-drops-letter-grades-for-pass-or-fail-system-268174405586

  2. Aug 6

    How to Plan an Engaging First Day of Class

    In this solo episode of The Prof Talk Pod, host Becky Achen revisits planning for the first day of class and argues that “syllabus day” is a missed opportunity to build buy-in, set the tone, and help students feel excited to return. She emphasizes that while the syllabus and clear expectations matter, professors also need to communicate the course’s value proposition and show up with energy, especially amid add/drop churn. Becky suggests using intentional, connection-building activities, such as a well-designed icebreaker, collaborative creative tasks, bingo, course-related board games, or a Jeopardy-style knowledge game, to help students trust each other sooner. She also recommends highlighting key syllabus sections (like late work and generative AI policies) and giving an assignment roadmap tied to learning objectives so students see how the course fits together.

  3. Jul 23

    Using Case Studies to Boost Student Engagement

    In this episode of the Prof Talk Pod, Becky and Katie discuss why case studies are an experiential, active-learning tool that helps students apply theory, reflect, and debate, while recognizing there often isn’t one “right” answer—just more defensible ones. Katie shares how she uses case studies in business and tax classes, including small, frequent “bite-sized” cases (like comparing state cannabis tax policies) and semester-long, evolving cases that build continuity with a single client and include role-based stakes. They cover challenges such as cost, outdated or recycled cases across programs, determining how much information to provide, and not relying blindly on teaching notes. The conversation also highlights using AI as a thought partner to create, update, format, and align custom cases with learning objectives and Gen Z relevance.

  4. Jul 9

    Step-by-Step Workflow for Updating Assignments

    In this solo episode of The Prof Talk Pod, Becky Achen explains how she uses AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to revise assignments that aren’t working. She outlines her process: diagnose what’s failing using student work, feedback, and reflection; document course context and constraints; prompt AI for ideas (often in multiple models); combine and refine suggestions; and then have the models critique clarity, missing details, and likely student questions. She then uses AI to help draft a rubric in her established style and revises for her own voice and course resources, while disclosing AI use. She shares an example converting a graduate crisis communication case study paper into a PR agency-style slide deck and presentation with a six-month image repair strategy and day-one response. 00:00 Show Introduction 00:28 Why Revise Assignments 02:23 Diagnose What Fails 06:14 Prompting AI for Ideas 08:41 Combine and Rewrite 09:24 Clarity Checks and Rubrics 14:31 Disclose AI Use 15:02 Case Study Makeover 20:57 Guiding Student AI Use 22:18 Wrap Up

  5. Jun 25

    Scaffolding Assessments for Student Success

    In this episode of the Prof Talk Pod, Becky Achen and Katie Metz revisit scaffolding as a core teaching strategy, focusing on how to build students toward learning outcomes by providing more support early and gradually increasing autonomy. They discuss a workshop framing scaffolding alongside AI use, emphasizing what students must master independently versus where AI can serve as a thought partner, while noting equity differences between paid and free tools. Katie shares her federal tax course design using short pre-class videos, low-stakes checkpoints, in-class practice problems, team activities, and module conclusions that combine terminology checks with application cases. Becky shares redesigning a marketing course from exams to three scaffolded unit assessments that progress from recognizing concepts in daily life to applying target audience ideas to analyzing and improving strategy. They emphasize formative repetition, reflection, and “see it before you do it.”

  6. Jun 10

    Relax, Reskill, and Recharge This Summer

    In this summer episode of the Prof Talk Pod, Becky Achen and Katie discuss practical ways faculty can use the summer to rejuvenate while still setting themselves up for a manageable fall. They talk about the realities of 9-, 10-, and 12-month contracts, the lack of PTO for many faculty, and why it can be appropriate to truly step away from email and teaching tasks when classes slow down. They emphasize balancing self-care with research and service expectations by clarifying departmental norms, setting realistic and concrete research goals, and planning ahead for course prep that may change year to year. They also suggest summer professional development (like AI courses), reading a teaching-related “pool book,” exploring campus resources, spending time outdoors, and building habits that reduce stress and burnout once the semester begins.

  7. May 28

    Turning a 16-Week Course into a Summer Course

    In this episode of the Prof Talk Pod, Becky Achen and Katie Metz discuss how to compress a 14–16 week course into shorter summer, J-term, or mini-mester formats (as short as six weeks) without sacrificing rigor. They compare different institutional summer structures, note challenges like overlapping spring wrap-up and summer prep, and emphasize the faster pace of grading, communication, and content coverage. They share strategies such as streamlining assignments, making some activities optional, setting clear expectations for time commitment and success, planning modules further in advance, and introducing major projects in week one. They also address limits on teamwork and attendance due to scheduling, time zones, and socioeconomic factors, urging instructors to be flexible and “let it go” where needed while still meeting learning outcomes. 00:00 Show Welcome 00:30 Why Summer Courses 01:49 Summer Schedules 06:03 Rigor And Format Shifts 08:52 Streamlining Workload 11:55 Synchronous Routine Tips 16:30 Grading And Response Pace 19:03 Flexibility And Attendance 29:05 Teamwork And Projects Fast 32:30 Let It Go

  8. May 14

    How To Decide When to Use AI in Your Work

    In this episode of The Prof Talk Pod, host Becky Achen reflects on an in-class ethical debate about students using AI to generate a podcast script and publish it as their own, which leads to a discussion of nuance and “gray areas” in AI use. She shares how her thinking has evolved since exploring ChatGPT in late 2022, shifting from simple “buckets” of acceptable use to a more intentional approach based on when her voice, effort, and authenticity matter. Becky explains where she chooses to write herself (e.g., student emails, nomination letters, newsletter drafts, podcast outlines) versus where AI can support efficiency (e.g., editing, YouTube descriptions, improving assignment design). She maintains hard lines against using AI for grading and for her research writing, and encourages listeners to reflect on their own boundaries and be transparent with students.

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Prof Talk Pod, hosted by Dr. Becky Achen, shares practical strategies, real-world examples, and conversations for college professors and higher education professionals. Explore college teaching, student engagement, course design, assessment, generative AI, educational technology, faculty development, academic careers, leadership, and teaching innovation. Each episode offers useful ideas to strengthen your teaching, navigate change, and grow professionally.

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