Episodes 

Episode One

What are we doing here...?

So this is our first episode, and short of forgetting to introduce ourselves (we rebounded later in the episode), we think it went alright.  This is basically an introduction to the podcast, to who we are, and to what some of our goals are for the time we spend together.  We hope that you might take some time to listen.  Also, if it makes it any more appealing, this episode is a cool, clean 17 minutes. Dig it. 

Episode Two 

The challenge of remote teaching

or, Why Remote Teaching Sucks (sometimes)

In this episode we discuss the challenges of remote teaching and learning.  It's a real, raw look at what we fear is missing from remote teaching, what makes it so difficult, and a recognition of the guilt that comes along with not loving teaching right now.  

We may all be battling the same storm, but no one is in the same boat.  Some folks are thriving, while other are barely staying afloat, and we think it's important to talk about it.  

Episode Three 

Managing workload & Avoiding burnout

This episode is near and dear to our hearts.  Burnout is a real thing, and now more than ever faculty face the reality of burning out when responsibilities from life within and outside of work collide, and when boundaries between the two are blurred (so damn blurry). 

Having both experienced burnout at times in our lives, we want to shed light upon what led us to burning out, and more importantly, share some strategies (from like, actual experts - woohoo!) on how to avoid and/or recover from burnout when it happens. 

In this episode we mentioned Brene Brown's podcast Unlocking Us, and in particular the episode titled "How to Complete the Stress Cycle", and also Emily and Amelia Nagoski's book titled "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle".  Emily also has another book that we've read (and when we say read, we mean listened to on a free Audible trial), called "Come As You Are".  

Episode Four 

Humanizing the remote teaching experience

This episode is close to our hearts as we're both such advocates for the importance of humanizing the teaching and learning experience (and even more particularly, the remote teaching and learning experience). Humanizing is about connection, collaboration, and bringing pieces of ourselves into our teaching and learning experiences.  It's about creating inclusive, welcoming, and inviting spaces for students to learn and to interact, and about acknowledging and appreciating all of the knowledge, culture, personalities, and experiences that we enter into these shared learning spaces.  The data supports it.  Like a lot of data, so we're here to discuss it, and speak from experience about the value of being human in our classes. 

We spoke in this episode about Michelle Pacansky-Brock, and her work on Humanizing in the world of post-secondary education.  If you'd like to check out any of Michelle's resources, please visit her fabulous website (link above).

Episode Five 

Unplugging and Recharging

In this episode we discuss the importance of down time, and the value of unplugging, recharging, and taking time for ourselves.  We discuss strategies for relaxation, and also setting the stage for a positive and painless transition back into work once the holidays are over.  Our focus for this podcast is on the teaching and learning experience, but as someone very wise once suggested, "you can't pour from an empty cup" so please take a listen, and remember to fill your cup first!

In this episode we mentioned Ana White's free project plan collection.  If you're interested in trying some woodworking projects of her own, check her out

Episode Six 

Educational technology, workflow, & More

with special guest Kate Quinn

Kate Quinn (Educational technology expert, Blackboard ninja, and all around heck of a good time) joins us for this episode of the Time for Teaching Podcast.  Kate discusses the journey that brought her from "Canada's Ocean Playground", Nova Scotia  to Georgian's beautiful Barrie campus, she chats about her experience as an online student, and shares tips for streamlining the use of technology in online and remote teaching experiences.  

Kate's "5 Tips for Streamlining Your Online Course" (<--- click on the link to download the PDF file) are timely as we prepare to enter the Winter term, we hope that you'll find a few great take-aways to apply to your prep for the upcoming term. 

Episode Seven 

emergency/Bonus Episode - Start-up Survival Kit

A last minute addition to the podcast lineup. We hope that you'll find a "nugget" of helpful info to make this Winter '21 startup as painless (and enjoyable!) as possible!

COMING SOON - Episode launch date - January 18th

We sat down together this week and started chatting about goals for the podcast in 2021 and realized that we were overlooking something super important.   We are all returning from holidays, still relatively fresh off of completing the Fall '20 term, and there are some amazing supports and resources that CTL is sharing, but not everyone has a schedule that allows them to attend or participate synchronously at the moment. 

So...we put our heads together, reminded ourselves of one of our main goals for this podcast (making PD and connection accessible for all Georgian faculty) and decided to do an "emergency" episode to share ideas, and/or to reassure folks that what you are doing is wonderful and "enough".   Because as Kelly shares in this episode, sometimes learning is about new concepts and ideas, and sometimes it's about the recognition/reassurance that you're already doing amazing things.   

Our prep for this episode led us to considering the feedback, questions, and ideas shared by Georgian's incredible faculty and from that we've compiled what we hope is an easy to share, digest, and hopefully easy to use list of strategies to help faculty prepare for the upcoming term. 

We're calling it Start-Up Strategies, and we hope that you can use it in complement to all of the amazing work that you already do to help ensure a fabulous term for both you and your students.  

Start Up Strategy List (a summary of the 10 items discussed in this episode)

1. We really believe that the prep, development, and learning that is being done will still have great value once we return to face to face teaching. So know that the work you are putting into developing your remote teaching will not be a waste.

2.  Lean (hard!) on your course outline.  Use it a foundation/structure/touchpoints, but just make sure you use it! An alignment document (sample below) can be really helpful with this.

3. Be mindful in your planning - consider the impact on the content and assessment schedule for both you and your students. 

4. Create an inclusive learning environment, and invite students to collaborate and be a part of it.

5. Talk openly and honestly about Academic Intregrity, Refer students to some or all of the amazing resources available on this, "open the door" - invite questions and let students know your shared learning space is a safe space to share.  

6. Humanize your course as much as possible.  Consider the impact that bedside manner has on your experience within the world of medicine, and remember that humanizing your course can have the same impact on the teaching and learning experience for your students. 

7. Put some thought into who you are and want to be this term, and what your goals are for this class, this term, and this group of students. 

8. Be as proactive as possible (if you know students will struggle to understand the expectations for an assignment if they're reading an assignment sheet, provide a screencasted walk-through of it instead), but also know that we are human, we are not perfect, and not every lesson will be a "home run" and that's OK!

9. Consider how, when, and why you're asking students to collaborate with you, the content, and eachother, and be deliberate and mindful in planning this.  Participation and engagement look different in a remote environment, so sometimes we just need to adjust our expectations in order to ensure we're not disappointed. 

10. Be kind to yourself and others....or better yet, be as kind to yourself as you are to others.  Sometimes we just need a reminder that if we're doing our best, that is enough.  Important for us as educators, and important to model and share with our students as well. 

In this episode we discussed a number of different resources and wanted to share links/methods of access to each of these below.  Please reach out to us with any questions!

• Alignment document (help with aligning course content to course outline and learning outcomes)

• Getting to know you survey (this is a link to a template that you are welcome to use "as is" or cater to you and your students.

• Academic Integrity Resources (there are so many, but this a good place to start) or you can reach out to our Academic Integrity Specialist, Kelly Fox.

• Armchair Expert Episode (we LOVE Dax!) with Brad Grossman - totally worth a listen!

• Another fabulous Humanizing resource from Michelle Pacansky-Brock - Humanizing Infographic 2.0

• Sample mission statement mentioned in the episode - " I endeavor to create brave spaces in this classroom in which students feel supported and safe so that ALL students may equally participate in the conversation.  “ 

• Kelvin Thompson quote mentioned from the podcast TOPCAST -  “telling is not teaching and listening is not learning”

Episode Eight 

Writing in teaching & Learning

with special guest Jesse Wilkinson

Please note, this was one of the first episodes that we recorded and we ran into some audio issues which we have since remedied.  We loved the interview with Jesse so much, we didn't want to re-record, and we're hopeful that the tiny audio blips will be overshadowed by the content :)

In this episode we chat with the super cool, interesting, intelligent, well-spoken, and wonderfully talented, Jesse Wilkinson about his book, Europe: A novel (linked below), about the joy of writing, and about how Jesse infuses creative writing into his teaching practice.  We wonder if writing acts as a creative outlet for Jesse, and Jesse shares some great practical application strategies for using writing as a learning tool, and a method of assessment in his communications and general education classes.

To check out or buy Jesse's book, please click on the following link Europe: A Novel by Jesse Wilkinson

Episodes Nine & Ten

Anti-Racism @ Georgian

with special guests Clement Bamikole & Lynn MacKinlay

In this episode we have the pleasure of chatting with the inspirational team behind the Anti-Racism forums and initiatives at Georgian, Clem Bamikole and Lynn MacKinlay.  Clem humbly introduces his rich history in advocacy and human rights, and Lynn passionately discusses some of the reasons why she is a part of movements like this one.  The pair provide history, context, and valuable commentary on anti-black racism and what allyship looks like.  They also provide information about how to start, next steps, and the great importance of raising your voice against the inequities that people from the BIPOC (Black, indigenous, people of colour) folks continue to face.  

A great journey starts with a single step, and although these two advocates and leaders are well into their journey, they gracefully and patiently share what we can do to help contribute to the solution, instead of being a part of the problem of racial injustice. 

We invite you to listen to this two part episode, and to please reach out for information or resources, or to contact us with feedback, questions, comments, or more. 

To learn more about how you can be a part of positive change within and beyond the Georgian community, please click on the following link - Anti-Racism Resources

Episode Eleven

Virtual reality in teaching (& more!)

with special guest Andrew Oster

Andrew Oster, Veteriarian, Teacher, and all around hilarious and fun guy (not to be confused with fungi!) joins us for a discussion of the value of Virtual Reality in his teaching and classes.  This also sparks a discussion about the need to "try something out" before jumping in with both feet (especially with regards to new tech).  We also discuss Andrew's love of bio-intensive gardening, his incredible ability to connect with patients (and pet parents), and his (exciting, but sometimes challenging - we're looking at you, Zebras!) experiences with exotic animals.   We'd love if you'd take a listen, and we're sure you'll find Andrew just as well-spoken, inspiring, and fun as we do! 

Episode Twelve

Indigenizing your curriculum

with special guest Emma Greenfield

COMING SOON - Episode launch date - March 1st

To say Emma Greenfield is fun to be around would be the understatement of the year.  We had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Emma about her history and culture, what drives and motivates her, her passion for and calling to social equity and justice, and her role as Indigenization Specialist here at Georgian, and were completely in awe of how she communicates and "is" in the space around her.  Emma shares stories, knowledge, and invitations to share, connect, and learn, and does it all with a giant smile, a warm heart, a strong voice, and a laugh as contagious as Kelly's. 

In this episode Emma shares information about resources that can help folks start, or take more important steps on, their own journey towards truth, reconciliation, and decolonization, and invites the Georgian community to reach out with questions, for more information, for tips, strategies, and ideas, or to learn more about Indigenous Culture, services, resources and more at Georgian and beyond.   

This episode is SO worth a listen, and we hope you feel as inspired to learn more, and to act, as we do.  Please enjoy a chat with Emma Greenfield. 

In this episode, Emma mentioned a number of resources that we wanted to share. Some of which are available through the Georgian library, and others can be found wherever you find your books.  We've provided AMAZON links below in case you'd like to learn more (or to purchase, not because we get anything out of it, but because...well pandemic...free shipping...you get it).

• Indigenous Services @ Georgian (many great resources and lots of wonderful information here!)

• Indigenous Books available through the Georgian library - Indigenous Books @ the Georgian Library. 

• Indigenous Videos available through the Georgian library - Indigenous Videos @ the Georgian Library. 

• Keeper'n Me - Richard Wagamese

• Wagamese has a number of other books available, and his author profile on Amazon can be found here - Richard Wagamese. 

• Emma's Grandmother's book (written in 1998) in case you'd like to learn more about it -  Toronto Public Library listing - Sing the Brave Song.

• Adam Gaudry & Danielle Lorenz - Indigenization as inclusion, reconciliation, and decolonization: navigating the different visions for indigenizing the Canadian Academy.  What do people really mean when they say 'indigenization'?

• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada - Calls to Action

• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada - Summary Report

• Seven Fallen Feathers - Tanya Talaga

• Thunderbay - Ryan McMann - Podcast

• Follow CBC Indigenous  - a great source for reputable news and information about Indigenous Culture, 

• Four Seasons of Reconciliation - Georgian's Professional Development Workshop (free, asynchronous workshop - this is so well done, and so important - PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT!)

Episode Thirteen

Changemaking @ Georgian College

with special guests Tracy Mitchell-Ashley & Laura Koza (pictured below #AccidentalTwinDays)

COMING SOON - Episode launch date - March 8th

In this episode, Laura Koza and Tracy Mitchell-Ashley take us on a journey of understanding what it means to be an Ashoka Changemaking Campus (the only one in Canada!), what Ashoka Changemakers do on campus and beyond, and how others in the Georgian community can integrate Changemaking strategies and themes into teaching and learning at Georgian College. These two are a powerhouse of knowledge, motivation, enthusiasm, and fun and we had a blast chatting with them.  

Tracy and Laura mentioned a few important resources for folks who are looking to learn more. Please click on the links below to view these resources:

• Georgian's Changemaker Profile Page

• Georgian's Centre for Changemaking and Innovation Website

• Change the Now Event 

• Georgian's Changemaker in Residency Week - Staff News Article 

• Georgian's MS Team - Changemaking and Social Innovation Team

• Georgian's CTL Changemaking Resources 

• Ashoka Canada Website

Episode Fourteen

Greg is awesome.

with special guest, and all around amazing human being - Greg Rodrigo

COMING SOON - Episode launch date - March 15th

Everybody at Georgian knows Greg.  And more than this, everybody at Georgian has had an experience working with Greg, and has felt seen, heard, appreciated, and special.  Greg is a wealth of knowledge, he is as friendly and kind as all get-out, he is an innovative thinker AND Greg is an active do-er - he talks the talk, AND he walks the walk, and we are forever grateful for all of the knowledge, joy, excitement, humour, innovation, and fun that Greg brings to Georgian, and the whole world around him. 

In this episode we chat with Greg about the future of teaching and learning, some of his favourite experiences in the world of education, and we learn a little more about what makes the amazing Greg Rodrigo tick! 

Greg is always a wealth of knowledge and shared information about some interesting and valuable resources.  Links to this information can be found below: 

• Coming soon...