Agility and continuous improvement are essential parts of online education to meet students’ needs now and in the future, and these attributes require a knowledge of online education best practices, awareness of students’ needs, goals, and challenges, and a regular habit of learning and reflection. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares highlights from the first 99 episodes of the Online Teaching Lounge podcast, a countdown of listeners’ top 5 favorite episodes, and ways in which we’re celebrating our 100th episode. 

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Providing guidance and assistance to students during their online academic journey is very different than in traditional, on-ground educational experiences. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen is joined by Dr. Jan Spencer and Dr. Scott Kalicki to discuss student affairs in online education. Learn why it’s so important for faculty to reach out to students and create more opportunities for interaction so there’s a dynamic and flexible educational experience. Also learn the value of mentorship, the importance of reflection, and more.

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Employment trends changed dramatically during the pandemic, leading to “The Great Resignation” with large numbers of people quitting or changing jobs. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about how the quitting contagion has affected online higher education. Learn three concepts that can help educators stay invigorated in their teaching, and also help retain students in the online classroom.

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Being an effective writer is a foundational skill but teaching students how to write can be both challenging and overwhelming for educators. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to author and educator, Dr. Jaclyn Fowler about her strategies for teaching writing. Learn how she uses writing workshops to teach writing through the eyes of a reader and a writer, and why it’s so important to teach students how to properly critique each other’s work. Also learn about the building-block and essay-map concept she teaches to help students outline their papers as well as tips for grading and assessing student writing effectively and efficiently.

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Every year, a large number of students across the country leave college and fail to complete their degree. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about what educators can do to improve student retention numbers. Learn ways to help students address academic difficulties, resolve academic or occupational goals, and help them gain a sense of belonging and connection during their education.

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With the shift to online learning, student affairs professionals have had to become more adaptable and agile in how they reach and connect with students. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to Dr. Jan Spencer and Dr. Sean Bogle about the need for student affairs professionals to be increasingly dynamic in order to assess the needs of students. Learn tips on identifying students who may be dealing with mental health issues, how to reach students regardless of their location, and working to make connections with students whether they’re online or on-campus.

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Online teachers must know and apply the principles of andragogy because many of their students are adult learners. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses some other critical teaching theories including pedagogy, which suits younger learners, constructivism, and a new concept called heutagogy, which focuses on self-directed learning. Becoming familiar with each theory and related teaching strategies can provide insight and new approaches for online educators.

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Research shows that integrating arts-based teaching strategies can help foster creativity and improve students’ ability to problem solve. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to APU’s Dr. Kathleen Tate and Dr. Greg Mandalas about how educators can integrate the arts, whether teaching in-person or online. Learn how all teachers, even those without an arts background, can integrate the arts into their curriculum.

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The New Year is a time to reflect on what we accomplished during the prior year and also what we can improve upon in the coming year. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses three habits that can help online instructors with their productivity and health. Listen to learn more about ways to improve your work-life balance as well as your mental and physical health.

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The role of student affairs is to mentor and guide the next generation of students and help them navigate a quickly changing world. This requires new and evolving skillsets for student affair professionals. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks with APU professors Dr. Jan Spencer and Dr. Barry Dotson about the evolving role of student affairs practitioners. Learn why it’s so important to be trained in mental health issues, for example, to help students dealing with a variety of issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also learn how to be increasingly comfortable dealing with students in an online environment as much as face-to-face.

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