We are living in an increasingly digital world where nearly everything we do generates data. This information can be used to come to profound and impactful decisions that create tremendous benefits—but only if we can interpret, understand and put the insights to use. The trouble is that although many of us are data-aware, we're far from data-litera…

As the debate over whether a post-secondary degree is worth it rages on, higher ed institutions are seeking solutions that can help them attract and retain new students. Enter data-driven decision making. When done properly, a well-executed data and analytics strategy can positively impact both student and institutional success. Universities and co…

What if you were asked to incorporate climate action into your existing curriculum? Would you respond with: “I’m not a climate scientist,” and follow up with “what does climate have to do with what I teach?” It may sound odd, but whether you teach calculus, drama, or beginner Spanish, our podcast guest says ALL courses are climate courses—period. M…

This is how a typical work life unfolds: we get an education, then a job and after 40 years or so at that job, we retire. But experts say, that won’t work in the future. (Pardon the pun). People are living longer, healthier lives. Now, before you start planning an extra, extra-long retirement, consider that the longer you live, the longer you’ll ne…

Student identity is crucial in K-12 public schools, but it’s not always given the attention it deserves. When students feel a sense of belonging and see their identities reflected in the spaces and curriculum around them, they thrive. This can have positive trickle-down effects on well-being and academic engagement. In this episode of the Teach & L…

We have a collective responsibility and an obligation to work toward making education equitable for all learners period. Wouldn’t this world be a better place if anyone who desires to learn, regardless of gender, religion, race, location, socioeconomics, and the like, could access high-quality education? Of course. What if the words ‘opportunity’ a…

Counter to the old adage, the US Department of Education is looking to fix something that many argue ain't broke... Right now, distance education is being reviewed and new regulations are being considered in the name of consumer protection. It's believed that the US Department of Education is operating under the misconception that distance educatio…

It's nearly time to roll out the red carpet! The STLHE Awards are fast approaching, and the D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning Co-Chairs couldn't be more excited. Dr. Aleksandra Zecevic and Dr. Jovan Groen sat down with Dr. Cristi Ford to discuss the highly anticipated annual event and of course, the awards! As our Canadian listeners kno…

In an ever-changing workforce, it’s important for business leaders to know where, when and how their staff want to learn. In this episode, guest Anthony Stephan, chief learning officer at Deloitte, speaks to how L&D is approached in their organization, including Project 120 and Deloitte University. When it comes to internal development, Stephan hig…

As educators, we know that knowledge is power. Nowhere is this more evident than in underserved and displaced populations. According to the United Nations, nearly half of all refugee children are not attending school. Thankfully, there are initiatives and individuals doing the work to help increase access to education for refugee populations. In th…

As AI continues to spread across the education landscape, the role of teachers is shifting. But what if educators looked at AI as a complement to their skillset, rather than a threat? In this episode of the Teach & Learn podcast, Dr. Cristi Ford talks to Michael Feldstein, Chief Accountability Officer at e-Literate about the impact of AI on educati…

In today's evolving workplace, employee development is challenging traditional compensation like salaries and bonuses. In the second part of this episode, guest Steve Cadigan, LinkedIn’s first CHRO and founder of Cadigan Talent Ventures, shares more insights on how investing in professional advancement is proving essential. Cadigan dives into his t…

While the applications and advancements in AI, robotics and intelligent machines are proving to be invaluable at the moment, our next guest reminds us of the old adage that nothing in life is free. Dr. Matt Beane is an award-winning robotic surgery researcher, an assistant professor in the Technology Management Program at the University of Californ…

Our workforce is experiencing a rapid pace of change. The tactics and expectations that worked last year, week or even yesterday might not be the answers we need today. In this episode, guest Steve Cadigan, LinkedIn's first CHRO and founder of Cadigan Talent Ventures, provides insights on the importance of learning in this new evolution of the work…

While many educators are cautiously dipping their toes into the LLM waters, this episode's guest has been playing in the depths and enjoying every minute of it. Reed Dickson is an educator, writer, designer and speaker focused on the future of teaching, learning, EdTech and AI. He joins Dr. Cristi Ford to share his passion for this evolving technol…

Welcome to another episode of Teach & Learn brought to you by D2L. Our regular listeners will know that we have been diving into AI as of late. As this technology evolves so must the conversation. It’s our responsibility to continue to question, investigate, and examine as it becomes more and more ubiquitous—this isn’t the time to make assumptions …

Organizations across industries and U.S. states are facing challenges in finding skilled workers. In this episode of The Skill Shift, guest Amanda Winters, program director at the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, shares how her organization is working on projects that focus on building talent pipelines, economic growth and …

Many K-12 teachers view critical thinking as a crucial skill for students to work on. But unlike a core subject, teaching it isn’t as simple as carving out a dedicated time slot and running an assessment at the end of the term. Technology can certainly help support the development of critical thinking skills, but only if used correctly. In this epi…

AI is here, and it’s here to stay. Whether you’re an early adopter of artificial intelligence or still reluctant to embrace it, the reality is it’s only going to become more and more prevalent. As with most technology, it will eventually find its way into nearly every aspect of our work and daily lives. If it’s everything our guest believes it to b…

During this episode of The Skill Shift catch up with guest Chike Aguh, Fulbright Scholar, educator, business leader, award winning non-profit CEO, and Biden presidential appointee. You can look forward to an engaging conversation connecting the dots between open roles and communities where workers need work, the importance of timeless skills for bu…

As 2023 comes to a close, The Skill Shift will be taking a brief break over the holidays. We've had so many wonderful conversations with our guests about their unique approaches to learning and development. It’s been our pleasure to share them with you. As we head into a new year, we're excited to continue our conversations with industry thought le…

There’s been a lot of chatter in the higher education world about the need to redefine the value proposition around credentials and skills. How does one verify a credential or skill from one university versus another? On top of this, universities and colleges are grappling with how to make sure they’re closing the chasm between what employers need …

This week catch up with our guest Mary Bollash, engineering learning and development officer at Carrier Global Corporation. Mary uses her educational background in adult learning and education to lead knowledge management and transfer activities within the engineering function for Carrier. In this episode, Mary shares how Carrier promotes knowledge…

In this episode of D2L's Teach & Learn podcast, Dr. Cristi Ford discusses the importance of humanizing online learning with guests Nicolas Parés and Mandi Singleton. They talk about the need for building meaningful connections in virtual spaces, share why it's important for educators to be vulnerable and provide practical tips and tools for faculty…

This week we talked with Tom Whelan, director of corporate research at Training Industry. Tom is an organizational scientist and research professional with over 15 years of experience working with companies to improve enterprise and employee outcomes. In this episode, we dig into some of Tom’s recent research, Redefining the ROI of Corporate Learni…

In today's episode, we welcome Michelle Sengara, Director of Academic Innovation at York University, to discuss how to systematize and scale innovation at higher education institutions. Our guest and host chatted about the systems approach to innovation, the importance of building relationships and reimagining teaching and learning as dynamic netwo…

This week we welcome two guests from Jobs for the Future (JFF): Meena Naik, director, skills-first design, and Cat Ward, vice president, employer mobilization. In their roles at JFF, our guests work to drive transformation of the education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. In this episode, we talk about what d…

Today’s episode is all about change management in the K-12 industry. Change management at the elementary and high school levels can involve pedagogy, administrative process and technology, or a combination of one or more of these areas. But it can often be met with resistance by educators, students and parents. To discuss these topics further, we w…

This week we chat with our guest Jackie Barker, global director of the VMware IT Academy, which partners with governments, educational institutions and non-profits to offer courses that create a pipeline of much-needed talent in the IT industry. Jackie is passionate about creating change through education as well as upskilling and reskilling in an …

In the latest episode of D2L’s Teach & Learn, we delve into the science behind learning and the importance of running on-going experiments in education. To discuss these topics further, Dr. Cristi Ford welcomed the winners of the XPRIZE Digital Learning Challenge: Norman Bier, John Stamper and Steven Moore, from Carnegie Mellon University. Click he…

This week, we're joined by guest Matt Sigelman, president at The Burning Glass Institute and chairman at Lightcast. He’s dedicated his career to unlocking new avenues for mobility, opportunity and equity through skills. He's a visiting fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and holds an AB from Princeton University and an MBA from Harvard. We discuss…

We are thrilled to be launching Season 2 of Teach & Learn, a podcast for curious educators. Our host, Dr. Cristi Ford kicks things off with an episode on the challenges and opportunities in preparing post-secondary graduates for the world of work. To discuss this issue further, we welcomed Joseph B. Fuller, Professor of Management Practice in Gener…

The Skill Shift is a podcast for organizations that want to future-ready their workforces, brought to you by D2L. Each episode, we speak with guests from some of the most innovative businesses around the world about their unique approaches to learning and development. They share specific, actionable insights into how they’re preparing their workfor…

In this episode, we’re discussing professional development (PD) in K-12 educators. We all know that effective PD is essential to the growth of not only educators but also students. When done correctly and consistently, it provides teachers with the necessary training needed to meet the needs of young learners. There’s a growing need and opportunity…

In today’s episode, we’re revisiting what has arguably been one of the hottest topics over the last few months: artificial intelligence and its impact on the future of education. To date, we’ve had professors discuss the pros and cons of generative AI and hosted experts who’ve broken down the tech behind tools like ChatGPT. Today, we’ll be discussi…

Our guest today, Dr. Julia Christensen Hughes, is the President and Vice-Chancellor of Yorkville University certainly fits this theme well. A true educational disruptor, she’s become known for creating radical shifts in the higher education industry in Canada over the course of her career. She discussed how her university experiences helped shape h…

In today’s show, we’re flipping the script and shining the spotlight on student voice. Honoring student voices in the education experience can take many forms. It could mean involving students in decision-making processes on campuses, recognizing them as agents of change within their own learning communities, and so many more. But one thing is clea…

In today’s show, we’re going deep on data. With a growing pressure for college professionals to provide evidence of successful activities, programs and services, data-informed decision making must become part and parcel of the way higher education is conducted. But as any faculty member, provost or admin will tell you, it can be challenging to expe…

In today’s show, we’re diving into the world of noncredit courses. The World Economic Forum highlighted the growing gap between the curriculum taught in traditional degree programs and the skills needed to work in today’s digital world. At the same time, enrollment in full-time degree courses continues to decline. Much has been said about micro-cre…

In today’s show, we delve back into the K-12 space to address the topic of learning loss. A 2020 article from the American Education Research Association found that students in grades one through eight lost an average of 17-34 percent from the prior year’s learning gains over the summer break. When you tack on a few years of remote schooling due to…

Following on from our last episode about ChatGPT, today we’re tackling the technical side of ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a generative text tool created by OpenAI that’s been causing a stir amongst educators and students alike. To discuss this topic further, we welcomed Annie Chechitelli, Chief Product Officer at Turnitin, and Linda Feng, Vice President of …

Today’s episode promises to be a controversial one. ChatGPT, a generative text tool created by OpenAI, is a hot topic among educators and students. Disruptive technology comes with a lot of questions: what are the pros and cons of using ChatGPT in the classroom? How is it changing assessment strategies? Can AI tools reduce cognitive load? What does…

Today’s episode is the second in a two-part we’re running on upskilling and the future of education. We look at the skills gap, how partnerships between employers and higher education institutions could work to benefit both, and teaching and learning methods outside CBE that deliver measurable results. To discuss these issues further, Dr. Cristi Fo…

Today’s episode is the first in a series we’re running on upskilling and the future of education. We look at why traditional methods of delivering post-secondary education are outdated, what can be done to address the societal stigma about not having a degree and offer suggestions for a way forward. To discuss these issues further, we welcomed Dr. …

In today’s episode, we unpack two of the most talked about terms in the education space: blended learning and micro-credentials. Whether you are for or against them, you can’t argue that they’re among the most talked about topics in the teaching and learning space today. To discuss this topic further, we welcomed Dr. Mark Brown, Director of the Nat…

In today’s episode, we look back at some of the issues that affected the K-12 landscape in America over the last year. But we also turn our gaze forward, hopeful about how 2023 will unfold. To discuss this topic further, we welcomed Dr. Nakia Towns, Deputy Superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools and Dr. John Malloy, Superintendent of Educa…

It’s the time of year for reflection. In today's episode, we take a look back at the bigger issues that affected the higher education landscape in 2022. But we also turn our gaze forward, hopeful about how 2023 will unfold. For this discussion, we welcomed Dr. Joshua Kim, Director of Online Programs and Strategy at Dartmouth College and a Senior Fe…

According to a 2022 Gallup poll, K-12 teachers in the United States experienced the highest levels of burnout out of every other industry surveyed. When you take a global pandemic, throw in emergency remote teaching and pair it with educational cuts and historically low salaries, it's no wonder those in the educational space are struggling. But wha…

In today’s episode, we get candid about designing engaging and accessible learning experiences. Our guest is Jarrett Carter, Associate Vice President for Integrative Learning Design at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Jarrett is passionate about creating inclusive and equitable learning spaces that eliminate long-standing barriers for marg…

Welcome to another episode of Teach & Learn: A podcast for curious educators. In today’s episode, we talk educator burnout. A 2022 Gallup poll reported that K-12 teachers had the highest burnout rate in the United States, followed by college and university workers, making educators among the most burned-out groups in the country. Mindfulness has be…