In this powerful season finale of Teach & Learn, Dr. Cristi Ford speaks with Isabelle C. Hau—Executive Director at Stanford and author of Love to Learn—about the urgent need to prioritize relational intelligence (RQ) in education. They discuss: ☑️ How academic readiness is incomplete without relational flourishing. ☑️ Neuroscience and social science research showing that human connection is essential for learning and lifelong success. ☑️ The importance of early childhood development and how ...
May 29, 2025•37 min
In this episode of Teach and Learn, Dr. Emma Zone continues the conversation with Dan Fitzpatrick, an international keynote speaker, bestselling author and AI educator, to delve deeper into the transformative role of artificial intelligence in education. Known globally as The AI Educator, Fitzpatrick shares his passion for innovation and technology. In this second part of this two-part episode, Fitzpatrick expands on the practical applications of AI in education, from resource creation to admini...
May 15, 2025•23 min•Season 3Ep. 16
In this episode of Teach and Learn, Dr. Emma Zone sits down with Dan Fitzpatrick, an international keynote speaker, bestselling author and AI educator, to explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Known worldwide as The AI Educator, Fitzpatrick shares his journey from being a high school teacher to becoming a leading voice in AI and education, emphasizing his passion for innovation and technology. In the first of this two-part episode, Fitzpatrick shares insig...
May 01, 2025•28 min•Season 3Ep. 15
In this episode of Teach & Learn, Dr. Cristi Ford sits down with Dr. Sean McMinn, Director of the Center of Education Innovation at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Dr. McMinn shares his insights on the importance of metacognitive awareness in an AI-driven society and provides practical strategies for educators to teach these concepts effectively. Viewers will learn about the role of AI as a copilot in the learning process and discover innovative approaches to integrating AI i...
Apr 17, 2025•35 min•Season 3Ep. 14
In today’s episode of Teach & Learn, Dr. Cristi Ford sits down with Nathifa Forde, executive director of NYC Her Future , to learn about the various initiatives she’s working on that are aimed at advancing education, workforce development and safety for young women in New York City. They discuss: Nathifa’s journey and the mission of NYC Her Future NYC Her Future’s partnership and collaboration with NYC Public Schools Disparities that young women face when it comes to education, employment, j...
Apr 03, 2025•32 min•Season 3Ep. 13
As AI continues to transform the educational landscape, understanding its impact is crucial for educators. In today's episode, Dr. Cristi Ford welcomes Dr. Angela Gunder, founder and CEO of Opened Culture (OEC), to discuss the multifaceted concept of AI literacies. Dr. Gunder explains the importance of understanding AI beyond its technical aspects, emphasizing the need for educators to grasp how AI influences collaboration, innovation and learner engagement. They discuss the eight key dimensions...
Mar 20, 2025•39 min•Season 3Ep. 12
In this episode, Dr. Emma Zone sits down with Emmy-Nominated edutainment creator Jerry Kolber to talk about making learning fun. Kolber’s work in television and podcasting focuses on blending education with entertainment. This concept, known as edutainment , presents subjects like math and science in more engaging, fun ways. Through storytelling, wacky characters and imaginative scenarios, Kolber’s creations are helping to capture attention, spark curiosity and ignite the joy of learning for kid...
Mar 06, 2025•32 min•Season 3Ep. 11
In this episode, Dr. Cristi Ford and special guest Dr. Amber Garrison Duncan, executive vice president and COO at the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN) dive into the skills-forward world of competency-based education (CBE). Together, they explore how this modern approach to learning is revolutionizing education by focusing on skills and competencies delivered at a flexible pace. Dr. Garrison Duncan shares insights on the collaboration between educational institutions, employers and orga...
Feb 20, 2025•37 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Figuring out how to use generative AI responsibly at one university campus is challenging enough – what happens when you’re tasked with doing it across 64 of them? In today’s podcast episode, Dr. Cristi Ford chats with Kim Scalzo, Interim Senior Associate Provost for Digital Innovation and Academic Services at the State University of New York (SUNY). SUNY is in the process of integrating generative AI across all 64 of its campus locations. Dr. Ford and Scalzo discuss the challenges and strategie...
Feb 06, 2025•34 min•Season 3Ep. 9
According to a U.S. News + Generation Lab report , 70% of college students have struggled with mental health since starting college. Despite expressing a need for care, only 37% of survey respondents searched for mental health resources. These findings align with a recent D2L-sponsored Tyton Partners report , which found that only 50% of students are aware of key on-campus services like academic and career advising, financial aid, and mental health counseling. It's clear we’re edging closer and ...
Jan 23, 2025•34 min•Season 3Ep. 8
If "all the world's a stage," as Shakespeare believed, then hope should be cast as the lead, argues Dr. Jessica Riddell of Hope Circuits Institute. Riddell contends that hope can transform higher education into spaces where humans can truly flourish. Drawing inspiration from the theater, she introduces a novel approach to integrating hope into systems that are beloved, resilient and broken. Join Dr. Riddell and host Dr. Emma Zone as they explore how hope can be actioned to rewire universities an...
Jan 09, 2025•46 min•Season 3Ep. 7
When the goal is a university degree or diploma from a private institution, learners can bank on a long road ahead. In some cases, the path traveled is straightforward; in other cases, it’s winding with more than a few detours, U-turns and full stops. While different, what these pathways have in common, is the destination. But, what about low-income learners or those from under-served communities who are less likely to consider pursuing higher education from a private university? What can instit...
Dec 19, 2024•36 min•Season 3Ep. 6
There aren’t many people who’d voluntarily pursue a career in a field they grew up disliking. But that’s exactly what Mike Yates did. Now a Senior Designer at the Reinvention Lab at Teach for America, where he leads AI initiatives, Mike joined Dr. Cristi Ford to chat about his experiences growing up as the child of an educator, why he’s so passionate about using technology to improve teaching and learning and why he believes all educators should be actively engaging with AI tools. In this episod...
Dec 05, 2024•38 min•Season 3Ep. 5
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-literate. And for the data-driven world of today, and the data-saturated world of the future, our next guest says that's not good enough. Institutions have ...
Nov 21, 2024•40 min•Season 3Ep. 4
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 colleges that can properly harness and analyze their data to gain insights into the needs of students and faculty will have a competitive edge over tho...
Nov 07, 2024•27 min•Season 3Ep. 3
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. Many of us experience feelings of anxiety or hopelessness when we hear the words "climate crisis." Knowing that the best way to stave off despair is th...
Oct 24, 2024•37 min•Season 3Ep. 2
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 need to stay in the workforce. And the more important life-long learning will become. People will need to be able to work while gaining the competencies...
Oct 10, 2024•34 min•Season 3Ep. 1
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 & Learn podcast, Dr. Emma Zone talks to Sharonda Willingham, Principal at Seattle’s Interagency Academy. They discuss the importance of student ident...
May 30, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 17
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’ and ‘divide’ never had to be paired together? We’d all be better for it. While we can strive to make things better on a global scale, there are actiona...
May 16, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 16
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 education is somehow less than traditional in-person education. But, Dr. Van Davis couldn't disagree more. Distance education is high-quality, deliberately d...
May 02, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 15
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 know, the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) is a community of professionals looking to enhance college and university-level t...
Apr 25, 2024•34 min•Season 2Ep. 14
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 this episode of the Teach & Learn podcast, Dr. Cristi Ford talks to Dr. Lesley Snowball, educational director for The Digital School , the first int...
Apr 04, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 13
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 education and the importance of teaching skills in the rapidly evolving educational landscape. They discuss: *The concept of durable skills *How teachin...
Mar 21, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 12
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 California , Santa Barbara, and a prominent thought leader in the realm of machine intelligence. He joins Dr. Cristi Ford to talk about how AI is disrupting s...
Mar 07, 2024•34 min•Season 2Ep. 11
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 technology and his thoughts on how educators and students can develop a better understanding of these tools. According to Reed, the best approach is a playfu...
Feb 22, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 10
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 about AI—especially when it comes to education. In this episode, your host Dr. Cristi Ford invites Justin Bruno, an AI Strategist at Michigan Virt...
Feb 08, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 9
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 episode of the Teach & Learn podcast, guest host Kassia Gandhi interviews Dr. Aleigha Henderson-Rosser , assistant superintendent with Atlanta Public...
Jan 25, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 8
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 be, we’ll wonder how we ever lived without it. AI and Partnerships Consultant Julian Moore works tirelessly to help associations and nonprofits all ove...
Jan 11, 2024•34 min•Season 2Ep. 7
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 and what types of skills their graduates are bringing to the job market. To discuss the topic of building an infrastructure for the exchange of verifi...
Dec 12, 2023•40 min•Season 2Ep. 6
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 looking to create better engagement with students in online learning environments. Click here for show notes and additional information. Thank yo...
Nov 29, 2023•37 min•Season 2Ep. 5
