Transform Your Teaching

If you gamify your class, how do you ensure that students remember content, not just the game that they played? What would it look like if you wanted to integrate learning into a game? Join Rob and Jared as they chat with Dr. Daniel Singletary (EdD in Educational Technology, Boise State University) about how gamification can be used to motivate students. 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 are the differences between gamification and game-based learning? How can one small “gamifying” step increase student engagement and make content stick? Join Rob and Jared as they define gamification, consider the underlying frameworks associated with gamification, and share some easy applications. View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesSelf-Determination Theory - Deci & RyanFlow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience - Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiThe Octalysis Framework for Gamification & Behavioral Design - Yu-kai ChouFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Take our surveyConnect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

What do gaming, storytelling, and music have in common? Can they be used in innovative ways in our teaching practices? Join Rob and Jared as they begin a new series where they will explore how these seemingly uncommon applications in education could be used in innovative/common ways. Have questions about some of the topics we’ve discussed recently? Drop all your burning questions in our form for an upcoming Q&A episode! 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

How can teachers use brain science to design more effective lessons? What do metaphors, working memory, and even a “quadrapus brain” have to do with student learning? In this extended episode, Rob and Jared chat with Dr. Barbara Oakley, author of Uncommon Sense Teaching, about how metaphor and clear direct instruction help both “race cars” and “hikers” learn more deeply.View a transcript of this week's episode.ResourcesUncommon Sense Teaching: Practical Insights in Brain Science to Help Students Learn – Oakley, Rogowsky & Sejnowski (Amazon)Learning How to Learn – Dr. Barbara Oakley (Coursera)FOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Connect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

How does someone remain a faithful educator over the course of their teaching career? What does it look like to invest in students beyond the classroom? How can you effectively pass the baton from one generation of teachers to the next? In this episode, Rob, Jared, and Wes Baker chat with our good friend “Mr. L” (Jim Leightenheimer, Former Associate Professor of Communication at Cedarville University 1982 to 2025) about his time at Cedarville and hear from former students about Mr. L’s influence on their lives and careers. 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

How has flipped learning developed over time? What are the best strategies for pushing students towards higher levels of learning? Is there any place for AI in flipped learning? In this episode, Rob and Jared chat with Dr. Wes Baker (former Professor of Communication Arts at Cedarville University from 1977 to 2017).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 is prompt engineering? How can you use prompt engineering to improve the output from Generative AI? In this episode, Jared Pyles reflects on his presentation at the Ohio STEM conference in June and shares CRISPE, an easy-to-use prompt engineering framework.View a transcript of this week's episode.ResourcesCRISPE — ChatGPT Prompt Engineering Framework - Denys Dinkevych FOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Take our surveyConnect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

How did Dr. Thomas White move Cedarville University forward through the implementation of ChatGPT Edu across its entire campus? How will this campus-wide initiative make an impact on students, faculty and staff?  In this episode, Rob and Jared discuss these questions and more with Dr. Thomas White (President of Cedarville University).Have questions about some of the topics we’ve discussed recently? Drop all your burning questions in our form for an upcoming Q&A episode! 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 can an instructor do to seem approachable to students? How does an instructor’s enthusiasm or attitude affect how students interact with them or their class? What kinds of assessments seem to be most effective for learning from a student’s view? Join Rob and Jared as they discuss the instructor-student relationship, assessments and more with Lauren and Daniel.Have questions about some of the topics we’ve discussed recently? Drop all your burning questions in our form for an upcoming Q&A episode! 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

How does the continued rise of technology affect how instructors should approach learning? What is a thoughtful usage of technology? In this episode, Rob and Jared chat with Derek Bruff, author of Intentional Tech, about what principles are most relevant six years after his book was released.Have questions about some of the topics we’ve discussed recently? Drop all your burning questions in our form for an upcoming Q&A episode! View a transcript of this week's episode.ResourcesIntentional Tech: Principles to Guide the Use of Educational Technology College Teaching - Derek Bruff Intentional Teaching Podcast - Derek Bruff FOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTL Chat with us!Take our survey Connect with us via LinkedIn Contact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions 

In this episode, Rob and Jared review “Intentional Tech: Principles to Guide the Use of Educational Technology in College Teaching” by Dr. Derek Bruff. They discuss the key principles of the book and their major takeaways.View a transcript of this week's episode.ResourcesIntentional Tech: Principles to Guide the Use of Educational Technology College Teaching - Derek BruffFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Take our surveyConnect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

What are the major takeaways from our “Online Teaching Practices” series? In this episode, Rob and Jared reflect on the lessons they learned throughout this series and provide some next steps for educators who want to improve their online teaching. Lesson 1: Reflective Practice Fuels EverythingLesson 2: Organization Is an Act of EmpathyLesson 3: Collaboration—You’re Not on an IslandLesson 4: Crystal-Clear CommunicationLesson 5: Cultivating Community OnlineLesson 6: Media Matters—More Than You Think 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

How can media enhance an online course? What are the markers of “quality” media in an online course? How can instructors take their media from good to better to best? In this episode, Rob and Jared chat with Jacob Lashuay, the CTL’s instructional media producer, about some practical ways to make high quality media in your courses. Have questions about some of the topics we’ve discussed recently? Drop all your burning questions in our form for an upcoming Q&A episode! View a transcript of this week's episode. ResourcesBest Practices for Webcam Recording -  FOCUS BlogFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Take our surveyConnect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions

Can you really create a good sense of community in an online course? What does it look like? In this episode, Rob and Jared discuss what community is, the value of community in an online course, and the best way to encourage community among online students. Have questions about some of the topics we’ve discussed recently? Drop all your burning questions in our form for an upcoming Q&A episode! 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

How is being clear about content and grading in an online course different from face-to-face? What needs to be emphasized? What should be avoided? Join Rob and Jared as they discuss clarity in online teaching.  Clarity in an online course can be achieved by avoiding “UNCLEAR” practices:    U – Unexplained jargon or acronyms N – Nonspecific instructions or vague prompts C – Complex, run-on sentences L – Lack of examples or concrete models E – Erratic formatting or inconsistent styling A – Assumptions about prior knowledge R – Rushed or delayed feedback  Have questions about some of the topics we’ve discussed recently? Drop all your burning questions in our form for an upcoming Q&A episode!   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

How can someone else help you develop better teaching practices? Who should you collaborate with as you design courses? What forms can collaboration take? In this episode, Rob and Jared discuss how collaboration can lead to better teaching and learning. Have questions about some of the topics we’ve discussed recently? Drop all your burning questions in our form for an upcoming Q&A episode! 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

How can structuring and chunking content and assessments in an online course help both the instructor and the learner? What are some best practices for organizing a course in your school’s learning management system? In this episode, Rob and Jared discuss how organization can alleviate barriers and facilitate learning in an online course. Have questions about some of the topics we’ve discussed recently? Drop all your burning questions in our form for an upcoming Q&A episode!  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 importance should instructors place on student reflection in their online course? How crucial is modeling self-reflection to your students? In this episode, Rob and Jared discuss self-reflection and how it can be placed pre-, mid-, and post-learning in an online course. Have questions about some of the topics we’ve discussed recently? Drop all your burning questions in our form for an upcoming Q&A episode! 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 are some key aspects of online teaching? What role does self-evaluation play in teaching and learning? In this episode, Rob and Jared begin a new series on online teaching practices and preview the importance of reflecting on your own teaching practices. Have questions about some of the topics we’ve discussed recently? Drop all your burning questions in our form for an upcoming Q&A episode! 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

How can Generative AI limit the number of syllabus questions you get? Can students use it as a reviewer before they submit their assignments? In this episode, Rob and Ryan chat with Dave Leitch (Associate Professor of Special Education in the School of Education and Social Work at Cedarville University) about how to leverage Generative AI tools with students.Have questions about some of the topics we’ve discussed recently? Drop all your burning questions in our form for an upcoming Q&A episode!View a transcript of this week’s episode.ResourcesSchoolAIFOCUS Blog - Cedarville University CTLChat with us!Take our surveyConnect with us via LinkedInContact us at ctlpodcast@cedarville.edu with any questions