Transform Your Teaching

How can sleeping habits influence a student’s motivation? How does it affect cognitive abilities? What can instructors do to help? Join Rob and Jared as they chat with Dr. Chao Liu (Associate Professor of Psychology at Cedarville University) about the effects of sleep on motivation.Please take this opportunity to fill out our 2025 wrap-up survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will remain anonymous. View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

What is self-determination theory? What role do autonomy, competence, and relatedness have in driving motivation? How can giving students the right choices increase their motivation? Join Rob and Jared as they chat with Dr. Erika Patall (Professor of Education and Psychology at the University of Southern California).Please take this opportunity to fill out our 2025 wrap-up survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will remain anonymous. View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

What are the differences between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation? Can extrinsic motivation be enough for students to succeed in a class? How can an educator move students to be intrinsically motivated? Join Rob and Jared as they discuss the benefits of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation.Please take this opportunity to fill out our 2025 wrap-up survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will remain anonymous. View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

What factors are at play in motivation? Can showing the value of our content increase a student’s motivation? How important is it that students know their instructor is invested in them and their learning? Join Rob and Jared as they chat with Professor Betsy Linnell (a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Cedarville University).Please take this opportunity to fill out our 2025 wrap-up survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will remain anonymous. View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

Can an educator increase a student's motivation towards academic goals? What motivational theories can serve as tools to understand how to motivate students? Join Rob and Jared as they start our series on student motivation.Please take this opportunity to fill out our 2025 wrap-up survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will remain anonymous.View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesTheories of Motivation in Education: An Integrative Framework – Detlef Urhahne & Lisette WijniaFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

How are current college students using AI in their academics? Where are they finding it useful? What limitations do they see? Join Rob and Jared as they discuss how students are using AI with current students Kaiya and Jude.Please take this opportunity to fill out our 2025 wrap-up survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will remain anonymous.View a transcript of this week's episode.ResourcesFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

What do students think about flexible deadlines, technology integration, and real-world applications in the classroom? Join Rob and Jared as they chat with Lauren and Daniel.Please take this opportunity to fill out our 2025 wrap-up survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will remain anonymous. View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

In this episode, Rob McDole and Jared Pyles chat with Eric Stroud (Instructor of Communication at Cedarville University). They discuss his professional experiences prior to stepping into higher education and the adjustments he had to make during his first semester of teaching.Please take this opportunity to fill out our 2025 wrap-up survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will remain anonymous.View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTL Chat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

What are we doing in 2026? In this episode, Rob and Jared discuss the topics that they are looking forward to covering this year.Please take this opportunity to fill out our end-of-the-year survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes, and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will remain anonymous.View a transcript of this week's episode.ResourcesFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

In this episode, Rob and Jared reflect on this year's podcast. Thank you to our listeners and followers who have joined us this year! On to year 4!Please take this opportunity to fill out our end-of-the-year survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes, and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will still remain anonymous.View a transcript of this week's episode.ResourcesFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

How do Christian educators approach Generative AI with caution? How can educators find the balance between using GAI as a tool and having it take over their teaching? In this episode, Rob and Jared chat with Dr. Dave Mulder about his new book Teach Like a Human.View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesTeach Like a Human: Playful Practice and Serious Faith in the Age of AI – Dave MulderInterpreting Your World: Five Lenses for Engaging Theology and Culture – Justin BaileyFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

In this episode, Rob and Jared reflect on the OLC Accelerate 2025 conference in Orlando, FL. They are joined by Dr. Bob Lutz, the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Cedarville University. Please take this opportunity to fill out our end-of-the-year survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes, and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will still remain anonymous.View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Take our surveyConnect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

What did Rob and Jared take away from our series, “Have You Tried...”? What innovative strategies made their way into their classes? Join Rob and Jared as they reflect on the series and how they tried to put these ideas into practice.Please take this opportunity to fill out our end-of-the-year survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes, and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will still remain anonymous.  View a transcript of this week's episode.ResourcesFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Take our surveyConnect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

We've discussed how mind mapping can impact teaching and learning, but what other applications exist? How can mind mapping help solve problems or organize thinking? Join Rob and Jared as they chat with Dr. Larry Cox II (Senior Instructional Designer at Virginia Tech) about his presentation on using mind mapping techniques in systems thinking while at the 2025 OLC Accelerate Conference. Please take this opportunity to fill out our end-of-the-year survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes, and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will still remain anonymous.  View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesOrganise Ideas: Thinking by Hand, Extending the Mind – Caviglioli and GoodwinFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

What is mind mapping? How can it be an effective tool for making connections between concepts? How can it help us process knowledge more effectively? Join Rob and Jared as they discuss how mind mapping can help students and teachers work through ideas.Please take this opportunity to fill out our end-of-the-year survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes, and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will still remain anonymous.  View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesThe Ultimate Book of Mind Maps - Tony BuzanLearning with concept and knowledge maps: A meta-analysis - Nesbit, J. C., & Adesope, O. O.FOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

What impact can familiar and unfamiliar music have on students in teaching? Do beats per minute correlate to cognition? Join Rob and Jared as they reflect on their interview with Dr. Deforia Lane and discuss the usage of music in education.Please take this opportunity to fill out our end-of-the-year survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes, and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will still remain anonymous. View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

What happens in the brain when music is played? How can music be used for teaching and learning? Join Rob and Jared as they chat with Dr. Deforia Lane (PhD in Music Education & Music Therapy from Case Western Reserve University) about how educators can use music to influence their students’ success.Please take this opportunity to fill out our end-of-the-year survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes, and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will still remain anonymous.  View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

What are the benefits of personal storytelling in the classroom? How can an anecdote enhance or support direct instruction? Join Rob and Jared as they discuss their own views on storytelling and reflect on their conversation with Dr. Q.Please take this opportunity to fill out our end-of-the-year survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes, and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will still remain anonymous. View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

What are Dr. Q’s essentials for good storytelling? How can storytelling be used as an effective tool for teaching and learning? Join Rob and Jared as they chat with Dr. Quentin Schultze (PhD in Communication from the University of Illinois - Urbana) about how he uses storytelling to connect with his students and make content more memorable. Please take this opportunity to fill out our end-of-the-year survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes, and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will still remain anonymous.  View a transcript of this week's episode.  Resources You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!: Life Lessons from the Movie A Christmas Story – Quentin Schultze FOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTL Chat with us! Connect with us via LinkedIn Contact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions 

What are some studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of gamification? How can the work that others have done to gamify their classes help you? Join Rob and Jared as they discuss examples from five different gamification studies.Please take this opportunity to fill out our end-of-the-year survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes, and your responses are anonymous. If you would like to be entered for the Uncommon Sense Teaching drawing, you can share your name and email address at the end of the survey. Even if you enter the drawing, your survey response will still remain anonymous.  View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesImpact of Gamification on Students’ Learning Outcomes and Academic Performance: A Longitudinal Study Comparing Online, Traditional, and Gamified Learning - Lampropoulos & SidiropoulosHow Gamification Boosts Learning in STEM Higher Education: A Mixed Methods Study - Ortiz‑Rojas; Chiluiza; Valcke & Bolanos‑MendozaGamification during Covid-19: Promoting active learning and motivation in higher education - Rincon-Flores & Santos-GueveraHigher Education Students’ Assessments towards Gamification and Sustainability: A Case Study - Santos-Villalba; Olivencia; Navas-Parejo & Benitez-MarquezStats Kwon Do: a Case Study in Instructional Design, Multimedia and Gamification of Instruction - Coffland & HuffMayer’s 12 Principles of Multimedia LearningChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions