Professors Talk Pedagogy

Today our guest is Dr. Karenna Malavanti, senior lecturer and neuroscience advisor in the department of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor University. Dr. Malavanti’s research focuses on applied cognition and human memory, looking at issues of legal psychology such as eyewitness memory, and education, addressing issues such as study strategies. Recognized as a Baylor Teaching Fellow in 2018, Dr. Malavanti is active in the Society for Teaching Psychology. We are delighted to have Dr. Malavanti on the show to chat about teaching as an introvert, increasing your awareness as a teacher, reflecting on our teaching, and much more.

Today, our guest is Dr. Paul Martens, associate professor of ethics in the department of religion and director of interdisciplinary studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Martens holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and has published widely on John Howard Yoder and Soren Kierkegaard. Dr. Martens has been director of the Baylor ethics initiative, where he serves as Global Ethics Research Convener. We are delighted to have Dr. Martens on the show to discuss what is right and wrong about disciplines in the academy and why interdisciplinarity matters for researchers and students.

Today our guest is Dr. Brooke Blevins, the Conwell G. Strickland Endowed Chair, Associate Professor, and Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Baylor University’s School of Education. In 2017, Dr. Blevins was selected as a Baylor Fellow—a cohort of Baylor teachers recognized for excellence and stimulated for experimenting in their classrooms. She was also the senior fellow for the program in 2018. Dr. Blevins teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in secondary education, social studies education, and multicultural education. We are delighted to have Dr. Blevins on the show to discuss, infusing virtues into your classes, how civic education relates to politics, the differences between high school and college learners, and much more.

Today, our guest is Dr. DeAnna Toten Beard. Dr. Toten Beard is Professor of Theater History at Baylor University, where she teaches a variety of undergraduate and graduate Theatre Studies courses. In 2012, she was named a Baylor Teaching Fellow, a recognition of great teaching with a cohort devoted to experiment in teaching. Dr. Toten Beard has also taught in the Baylor interdisciplinary core and is the past co-director of the Baylor in Oxford study abroad program. We are delighted to have Dr. Toten Beard on the show to discuss how place affects teaching, what students learn about themselves and each other and others when they study abroad. And much more.

Today our guest is Dr. Kara Poe Alexander, professor of English and Director of Baylor University’s Writing Center. Specializing in composition, rhetoric, literacy studies, and writing pedagogy, Dr. Alexander teaches undergraduate and graduate courses ranging from first year composition to travel writing to composition theory and pedagogy. She has published dozens of articles and book chapters on various aspects of teaching writing and teaching through writing. We are delighted to have Dr. Alexander on the show to discuss how the writing center fits in the mission of the university, why writing still matters, how to build on students’ writing skills throughout their college careers, and much more.

Today our guest is Dr. Jeff Doyle, associate director of planning and assessment in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at Baylor University. Dr. Doyle has a B.A. in Biology, M.Ed. in Counselor Education, and Ph.D. in Higher Education, all from the University of Virginia. Before serving in his current role, Dr. Doyle served for nine years as the Dean for Student Learning and Engagement at Baylor, where he oversaw the departments of Campus Living & Learning, New Student Programs, the Academy for Leadership Development, and Student Activities. Throughout his time at Baylor, Dr. Doyle has taught numerous behavior, leadership, and higher education management courses. We are excited to have Dr. Doyle on the show to discuss the full circle of student involvement with the university, from the freshman experience to assessing program outcomes.

Today, our guest is Robert Darden, professor in Journalism, Public Relations, and New Media at Baylor University. Teaching at Baylor since 1988, Prof. Darden has taught a range of courses from magazine writing to screenwriting to intro to Mass Communication. He has written over two dozen books, his most recent being the two-volume history of Black Sacred Music, Nothing But Love in God’s Water. Prof. Darden has won numerous teaching awards, including the Cornelia Marschall Smith Award in 2011; and this year, Prof. Darden was also named a Baylor Master Teacher—the highest honor for teaching bestowed by the University. We are thrilled to speak with him about the power of storytelling, teaching with emotion and humor, love for your students, and much more!

Today, our guest is Dr. Corey Carbonara, professor of film and digital media at Baylor University. Dr. Carbonara is an active filmmaker and teaches corporate communication, lighting, cinematograph, and production. Dr. Carbonara has frequently been recognized as an outstanding teacher. He was recently awarded the Excellence in Education Medal from the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers; and in 2016, Dr. Carbonara was named Baylor Master Teacher—the highest award for teaching bestowed by the University. We are delighted to welcome Dr. Carbonara to the show to discuss the symbiotic relationship between industry and academia, the importance of getting students involved, and why it’s probably not a good a idea to stand on a table to make a point in class!

Today, our guest is Amy Goodman, Lecturer in Mathematics at Baylor University. An early advocate of online teaching at Baylor Professor Goodman is currently chair of Baylor’s Teaching, Learning, and Technology Committee. She is currently finishing her PhD in Learning Technologies at the University of North Texas. She was also a recent recipient of a teaching exploration grant for a project investigating technologies enabling online math students to more easily show their work. We are delighted to have Professor Goodman on to discuss creativity in online teaching.

Today our guest is Dr. Darin Davis, Director of Baylor’s Institute for Faith and Learning and clinical professor of moral philosophy in the Honors Program. Dr. Davis teaches courses on ethics and has been instrumental in scholars programs that help students connect faith and learning, including the William Carey Crane Scholars for undergraduates and the A.J. Conyers Scholars for graduate students. He is a regional editor for the International Journal of Christianity and Education and conducts research on the vocation of learning, educating for wisdom, and the philosophy of friendship. We are delighted to welcome Dr. Davis for a conversation about student character development, what it means to teach “Christianly,” and much more.