The Meaty Part of the Curve

Welcome to the Meaty Part of the Curve! … Thirty minutes of FUN..damentals, Tech, Teaching, and Talk – A weekly webisode featuring special guests, surprises, and straight talk about the day’s instructional challenges.

Last refreshed: July 16th, 2025 at 7:33 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

Episode 11: End of season one

The final episode of fall reflects back on special guests, topics, and what is to come in "season two" -Recognizing change and the future for Central Michigan University --Changing demographics, changing expectations -How to be a better educator --Communication --Excellence with Stephanie Bechtel --Rapport in the classroom with Dr. Troy Hicks, Ph.D. --Student engagement with Dr. Amy Lilienfeld, Ph.D. --Technology tools with Derek Leib --Testing -"Season two" topics coming January 2016

Dec 02, 2015•23 min

Episode 10: Striving for excellence

Special Guest Stephanie Bechtel discusses striving for excellence. Stephanie is CMU Global's Associate Director of Faculty Support and Assessment and has been with CMU for 17 years. -The concept of perfection and excellence within instructors -Seeking the purpose of the End of Course survey --More than just a performance indicator --Validity of student input --Result concerns and faculty support -Faculty innovations: what is to come in the short and long term

Dec 02, 2015•30 min

Episode 9: End of the semester

Keep calm, the semester is about to end! How to positively close out the semester -Keeping students engaged and preventing procrastination in the final weeks of the course -Student Feedback, use of "Know-Wonder-How-Learn" (KWHL) Chart --Help refine future course offerings --Continuous feedback throughout course -End of Course Surveys -Final communications, course closure and transitioning to the next semester

Dec 02, 2015•29 min

Episode 8: Testing, one, two three...

Testing, one, two three... the evolution of testing at Central Michigan University, current tools and best practices for maintaining the integrity and purpose of evaluation -Testing effectiveness and authenticity -Testing centers and proctoring -Respondus products and exam production -Academic integrity

Dec 02, 2015•29 min

Episode 7: Online "chats" via virtual classrooms

NOTE: Poor audio quality at times during recording Special Guest Dr. Amy Lilienfled, Ph.D. on her extensive experience as an instructor, specifically focusing on the gap between student and instructor perception of online “chats” via virtual classrooms -The importance of student interaction -How to build real relationships for meaningful engagement within the online classroom -Struggles with getting students to participate -Student engagement vs. compliance -How to set expectations for the virtu...

Dec 02, 2015•30 min

Episode 6: Communication tools, learning, and participation within a technology-driven classroom

The evolution of communication tools, learning, and participation within a technology-driven classroom -Learner engagement, success, and performance in online, blended, or technology-facilitated settings -Communication tools available today and when to use them --What form of communication do you use and when? --What is appropriate? Considerations based on audience, content, message, and preferences -Six key areas that affect participation in online learning from the Ching Kuo Institute of Manag...

Dec 02, 2015•28 min

Episode 5: CMU's OIT Help Desk

Special Guest Derek Leib discusses the services offered by CMU’s OIT Help Desk and how the array of services helps to address and resolve technical issues -Help Desk interactions and service -Help Desk communication recommendations -What to do if service is not satisfactory -When to contact the Help Desk vs. LMS Instructional Support

Dec 02, 2015•29 min

Episode 4: Professional, personal, and faculty development

A focus on development, why it is needed, where to find it, and its role in being successful -Professional, personal, and faculty development --Where do I find development opportunities? --Why do I need development? --Transition of development to the classroom -Service excellence and student experience -How to connect faculty and student populations

Dec 02, 2015•30 min

Episode 3: What is "rapport"?

What is "Rapport" and how to build instructor-student and student-instructor rapport in the classroom for an improved learning environment -How and when to start and maintain rapport -Simple, basic techniques to establish rapport -Creating a civil classroom -Benefits of established rapport in the classroom

Dec 02, 2015•29 min

Episode 2: CMU's Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL)

Special Guest Dr. Troy Hicks, Ph.D. on being an English instructor and consultant, here at Central Michigan University within the Global Campus and the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning -Dr. Hicks' experiences and contributions on how to build rapport in the classroom -FaCIT overhaul, now Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) -New vision and mission for CETL -CETL staff introduction

Dec 02, 2015•28 min

Episode 1: Student demographics

The ever-changing student demographics of Central Michigan University and how to adjust expectations, collaborate, and connect to learners -Introduction to the Meaty Part of the Curve -Recordings will be kept in the Global Campus Faculty Resources for reference -Focuses on CMU students, specifically CMU Global students -Shifts in enrollment over the past 44 years -Who is the typical CMU Global campus student

Dec 02, 2015•26 min

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