Walker Podcast for Teaching and Learning (WPTL)

WPTL Show Notes S4 Ep2 08202026 Walker Podcast WPTL Interview with Barb Oakley

S4 Ep2, Barb Oakley, Back to School Fall 2026

Our special interview with Dr. Barb Oakley, author and researcher, and our Instructional Excellence speaker this past May. 

The interview is a focused follow up with Barb, allowing us to hear more about her ideas on student engagement and getting to know students from the first day of “back to school” this Fall. 

Resources from the conversation include:

The tv series mentioned was Murder Mindfully .

The math book about Lean, a computer program, was by Kevin Hartnett: The Proof in the Code .

The wildlife minute this month focuses on deep cleaning bird baths, feeders, and bird houses.

Your local wildlife rehabilitation center: https://campwildernest.com/ 

Birdhouse/Feeder/Bath Safe Cleaning Spray from Amazon

Hummingbird Feeder shaped like a saucer 

Mascara Brush “Spoolies” for cleaning tiny openings in feeders

S2, Ep4  Show Notes:

Name website: Dr. Barb Oakley, https://barbaraoakley.com/ 

Social Media: 

Book: Uncommon Sense Teaching and others: https://barbaraoakley.com/books/ 

Speaker’s Page https://barbaraoakley.com/speaking/ 

WPTL is a creative endeavor of the staff of the  

Walker Center for Teaching and Learning - http://utc.edu/walker 

at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. - http://utc.edu  

Hosted by Mary Marr and co-hosted and produced by Heather Thach. 

Sound edits by Nick Fontaine, our Digital Media Specialist.   

Pilot shared Summer 2023 

Inaugural Season 1 Fall 2023

Now recording Season 4 for Fall 2026!

We would love to hear from you anytime at [email protected] 

WPTL Show Notes S4 Ep1 07102026 Walker Podcast WPTL Interview with Victoria Bryan

S4 Ep1, Victoria Bryan, Week Zero Fall 2026

Our special interview with Dr. Victoria Bryan, Director of the Walker Center for Teaching and Learning. 

https://www.utc.edu/academic-affairs/walker-center-for-teaching-and-learning 

The interview is specifically about the Walker Center programming for Week Zero Fall 2026.

https://www.utc.edu/academic-affairs/walker-center-for-teaching-and-learning/week-zero

The wildlife minute this month focuses on Woodrow, the wood thrush. Rescued by our sound engineer, Heather Thach, and rehabilitated at our local wildlife center: https://campwildernest.com/ 

Photo of Woodrow before visiting Camp Wildernest

Photo of Woodrow about to be released

S4, Ep1  Show Notes:

Name / website: Dr. Victoria Bryan, Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, Director

School/dept page: https://www.utc.edu/academic-affairs/walker-center-for-teaching-and-learning 

UTC Canvas - Key Dates: https://www.utc.edu/academic-affairs/walker-center-for-teaching-and-learning/key-dates 

Dr. Liz Norell, Visiting Scholar in WCTL for Fall 2026: https://liznorell.com/

WPTL is a creative endeavor of the staff of the  

Walker Center for Teaching and Learning - http://utc.edu/walker 

at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. - http://utc.edu  

Hosted by Mary Marr and Heather Thach.  

Pilot shared Summer 2023 

Inaugural Season 1 Fall 2023

Now recording Season 4 for Fall 2026!

We would love to hear from you anytime at [email protected] 

WPTL is a creative endeavor of the staff of the  

Walker Center for Teaching and Learning - http://utc.edu/walker 

at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. - http://utc.edu  

Hosted by Mary Marr and co-hosted and produced by Heather Thach. 

Sound edits by Nick Fontaine, our Digital Media Specialist.   

Pilot shared Summer 2023 

Inaugural Season 1 Fall 2023

Now recording Season 4 for Fall 2026!

We would love to hear from you anytime at [email protected] 

Our exclusive podcast interview with Instructional Excellence Conference 2025 speaker, Dr. Michelle Miller:  https://www.michellemillerphd.com/

The interview is a focused follow up to the keynote and workshop from the Walker Center’s annual end of the academic year conference. Dr. Miller spoke with us just after the conference about a variety of teaching and learning topics. We encourage you to check out her books, especially the one we discuss in some detail on the importance of learning students names! https://www.michellemillerphd.com/books 

Many thanks to Dr. Miller for speaking with us and encouraging our use of the resources she mentioned, listed below. 

S3, Ep2  Show Notes:

Dr. Miller’s Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdmillerphd/

Books: https://www.michellemillerphd.com/books 

Speaker’s Page https://www.michellemillerphd.com/speaking

Dr. Miller mentioned Harvard’s Dr. Michael Sendel, his practice of calling students by name as he summarizes their points. He’s very calm and kind, and calls on lots of students to engage over the passed around microphones. I found an example here, and he’s a great speaker - talking to several students in a huge room. Start around 9:20, but the whole lecture is good! https://youtu.be/FX9S1uN2Lzw?si=hkmrr3CCd0xRQLB_&t=560 

Dr. Miller also mentioned Dr. Jim Lang’s advice on using the first day of class well, and he’s written about that here: https://www.chronicle.com/article/how-to-teach-a-good-first-day-of-class/?utm_campaign=che-social&utm_content=20250104&utm_medium=o-soc&utm_source=li

I mentioned an Edutopia quote, Kindness Changes the Brain, especially noting “ Studies show that people experience a “helper’s high” when they do a good deed. This rush of endorphins creates a lasting sense of pride, well-being, and belonging. It’s reported that even small acts of kindness heighten our sense of well-being, increase energy, and give a wonderful feeling of optimism and self worth”. and here’s more about that: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-kindness-essential-reduce-bullying-lisa-currie 

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The Wildlife Minute this month focuses on water fowl, specifically ducks and geese who are at risk of “Angel Wing”, a terrible deformity that comes from poor nutrition -primarily too much bread or crackers! 

Additional information and ideas for helping ducks in parks: https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/wildlife-issues/problem-feeding-ducks 

Find help for local wildlife: https://campwildernest.com/ 

Outside the local area, keep this site in mind for help: https://ahnow.org

WPTL is a creative endeavor of the staff of the  

Walker Center for Teaching and Learning - http://utc.edu/walker 

at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. - http://utc.edu  

Hosted by Mary Marr and co-hosted and produced by Heather Thach. 

Sound edits by Nick Fontaine, our Digital Media Specialist.   

Pilot shared Summer 2023 

Inaugural Season 1 Fall 2023

Now recording Season 4 for Fall 2026!

We would love to hear from you anytime at [email protected] 

S3 Ep 1 Show Notes (October 2024)

Our first interview with Walker Center’s own, Anna Liu.

The interview is a focused Anna’s follow-up workshop series to the August 2024 “Week Zero” presentation by Dr. Cindy Nebel. Cindy is one of the Learning Scientists, a group of cognitive psychological scientists interested in research on education, focusing on the science of learning. 

Ideas and Resources shared: 

• Dr. Cindy Nebel: https://x.com/PsyDocCindy

• Cindy’s slides from her UTC presentation in August 2024
  
  
  
• The Learning Scientists: https://www.learningscientists.org/ 

• Ace That Test and other Learning Scientist team books: https://www.learningscientists.org/books 

To register or learn more about Anna’s Deep Dive series, contact Anna by email or register:

• [email protected] 

• Registration form

Resources from our Wildlife Minute: 

The Wildlife Minute this month focuses on starting and keeping a bird list, for a year or for a lifetime. We would love to hear from listeners who do this or plan to start, or want to chat more about it!

• The Big Year - movie with Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson (also on Prime)
• The Big Year - book on Audible
• How to Start Birding: https://www.nps.gov/articles/birding-for-beginners.htm 
• Merlin App is a must!

As always, we share the local songbird rehabilitation center’s information: 

• Find help for local wildlife: https://campwildernest.com/ 
• Outside the local area, keep this site in mind for help: https://ahnow.org

WPTL is a creative endeavor of the staff of the  

Walker Center for Teaching and Learning - http://utc.edu/walker 

at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. - http://utc.edu  

Hosted by Mary Marr and co-hosted and produced by Heather Thach. 

Sound edits by Nick Fontaine, our Digital Media Specialist.   

Pilot shared Summer 2023 

Inaugural Season 1 Fall 2023

Now recording Season 4 for Fall 2026!

We would love to hear from you anytime at [email protected] 

Our exclusive podcast interview with Instructional Excellence Conference 2024 speaker, Dr. James Lang.

The interview is a focused follow up to the keynote and workshop from the Walker Center’s annual end of the academic year conference. Dr. Lang spoke with us on this podcast season’s topic, Loneliness among young people and social connection. 

For more background on this topic, reference the Surgeon General’s advisory on the epidemic of loneliness, and also this short video of him talking about social connections.

Many thanks to Dr. Lang for speaking with us about this urgent crisis among our young people. 

S2, Ep2  Show Notes:

James Lang’s Links:

• Website: https://www.jamesmlang.com/ 
• Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/jimlang7 
• Books: https://tinyurl.com/JamesLangAMZ 
• Publisher’s Page https://www.jamesmlang.com/essays 
• Speaker’s Page https://www.jamesmlang.com/speaking 
• School/dept page: https://magazine.nd.edu/stories/whats-so-great-about-college/ 

The Wildlife Minute this month focuses on outdoor cats and their effect on wildlife. The majority of injured birds we see in wildlife rehabilitation come from outdoor cats. We love cats and want them all safe!

• Ideas on how to create a safe catio: https://tinyurl.com/2024Catio 
• Find help for local wildlife: https://campwildernest.com/ 
• Outside the local area, keep this site in mind for help: https://ahnow.org

WPTL is a creative endeavor of the staff of the  

Walker Center for Teaching and Learning - http://utc.edu/walker 

at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. - http://utc.edu  

Hosted by Mary Marr and co-hosted and produced by Heather Thach. 

Sound edits by Nick Fontaine, our Digital Media Specialist.   

Pilot shared Summer 2023 

Inaugural Season 1 Fall 2023

Now recording Season 4 for Fall 2026!

We would love to hear from you anytime at [email protected] 

S2 Ep 1 Show Notes (March 2024)

Special Guest Jason Harville, UTC Assistant Director of Academic Initiative 

Jason’s UTC website: https://www.utc.edu/enrollment-management-and-student-affairs/housing/staff/residence-life 

Our conversation was based on Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and this recent article:

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/physical-mental-health/2023/11/08/new-epidemic-gripping-college-campuses-lonelines 

Ideas and Resources shared:

-“Office Hours” = Consider changing the name to “Student Hours” 

-Vivek Murthy’s We are Made to Connect: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/10/30/surgeon-general-launches-nationwide-we-are-made-to-connect-college-tour-to-inspire-students.html 

-5 for 5 Connection Challenge: https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/connection/challenge/index.html 

-Jason mentioned the UTC Center for Wellbeing: https://www.utc.edu/enrollment-management-and-student-affairs/center-for-wellbeing 

-Quote to Ponder: "You come home, make some tea, sit down in your armchair, and all around there is silence. Everyone decides for themselves whether that's loneliness or freedom." 

-We mentioned Bengt Carlson, and ThinkAchieve, learn more here: https://www.utc.edu/academic-affairs/walker-center-for-teaching-and-learning/experiential-learning 

Resources from our Wildlife Minute: 

Camp Wildernest (local): https://campwildernest.com/ 

If you see wildlife in need of help outside of our area: https://ahnow.org/ 

Heather’s amazing photography is featured in our baby bird photo of the week:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eYOKvbf42tR0t_1zethVH1YZ2pGcyjXY/view?usp=sharing 

WPTL is a creative endeavor of the staff of the  

Walker Center for Teaching and Learning - http://utc.edu/walker 

at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. - http://utc.edu  

Hosted by Mary Marr and co-hosted and produced by Heather Thach. 

Sound edits by Nick Fontaine, our Digital Media Specialist.   

Pilot shared Summer 2023 

Inaugural Season 1 Fall 2023

Now recording Season 4 for Fall 2026!

We would love to hear from you anytime at [email protected] 

Our special interview with Dr. Edward Maloney, author of Learning Innovation and the future of Higher Education. Dr. Maloney is also the executive director of Georgetown’s learning center, The Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship (CNDLS). 

The interview is a focused follow-up to his campus visit and WCTL overview report from May 2023.

The wildlife minute this month focuses on migration tips: birdbath cleaning and keeping your outdoor lights off. Local wildlife center mentioned in the episode: https://campwildernest.com/ 

Dr. Edward Maloney’s Bio at Georgetown, his unit is called CNDLS: https://cndls.georgetown.edu/people/ejm/ 

Eddie’s Social Media: Linked In -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiemaloney/

Eddie’s Book: Learning Innovation and the Future of Higher Education - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YQ8KCVJ 

Publisher’s Page https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12072/learning-innovation-and-future-higher-education 

Georgetown’s Teaching, Learning, Innovation Summer institute: https://tlisi.georgetown.edu/ 

Wildlife Minute this month features information on bird migration, bird bath cleaning and safety, and light pollution at home. 

The wildlife rehab center that I volunteer with is Camp Wildernest: https://campwildernest.com/

CWWC Graphics: https://www.instagram.com/campwildernestwildlife/

Wild Birds Unlimited info on cleaning bird baths: https://granger.wbu.com/bird-bath-cleaning-tips-2022j#:~:text=Because%20birds%20clean%20themselves%20and,bleach%20to%2010%20parts%20water.

Article on light pollution and bird migration: https://www.gcbo.org/resources/light-pollution/#:~:text=Many%20of%20these%20migrating%20birds,misdirects%20them%20into%20urban%20areas.

WPTL is a creative endeavor of the staff of the  

Walker Center for Teaching and Learning - http://utc.edu/walker at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. - http://utc.edu  

Hosted by Mary Marr and Heather Boyd.  

 Pilot shared Summer 2023 

Inaugural Season 1 Fall 2023   

We would love to hear from you anytime at [email protected] 

WPTL is a creative endeavor of the staff of the  

Walker Center for Teaching and Learning - http://utc.edu/walker 

at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. - http://utc.edu  

Hosted by Mary Marr and co-hosted and produced by Heather Thach. 

Sound edits by Nick Fontaine, our Digital Media Specialist.   

Pilot shared Summer 2023 

Inaugural Season 1 Fall 2023

Now recording Season 4 for Fall 2026!

We would love to hear from you anytime at [email protected] 

Interview with author Kevin M. Gannon.  This is a special follow-up with Kevin, our 2023 Instructional Excellence keynote speaker, and author of Radical Hope: A Teaching Manifesto . 
The wildlife minute this week focuses on my personal favorite, the crows!  

S1, Ep 3 Show Notes: 

Kevin Gannon’s website: https://thetattooedprof.com/ 
Kevin mentioned James Lang, his site is here: https://www.jamesmlang.com/  

WPTL is a creative endeavor of the staff of the  Walker Center for Teaching and Learning - http://utc.edu/walker  at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. - http://utc.edu  

 Hosted by Mary Marr and Heather Boyd.  

Pilot shared Summer 2023

Inaugural Season 1 Fall 2023   

We would love to hear from you anytime at [email protected] 

WPTL is a creative endeavor of the staff of the  

Walker Center for Teaching and Learning - http://utc.edu/walker 

at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. - http://utc.edu  

Hosted by Mary Marr and co-hosted and produced by Heather Thach. 

Sound edits by Nick Fontaine, our Digital Media Specialist.   

Pilot shared Summer 2023 

Inaugural Season 1 Fall 2023

Now recording Season 4 for Fall 2026!

We would love to hear from you anytime at [email protected] 

Interview with WCTL Staff colleagues with a focus on Generative AI. Chris Johnson and Heather Boyd answer questions and give updates on the resources our Center offers for faculty wanting to learn more about using AI with students and in classes. Also, the intense summer heat is the focus of our monthly wildlife minute.

S1, Ep 2 Show Notes:

Gen AI tools mentioned include:
ChatGPT
Bard by Google
Dall-e
Adobe Firefly

Historical mentions:
Deep Blue (chess computer)
Deep learning advances such as Siri suggestions, Netflix recs

WCTL Resources page
Book Club: Ghost Work
Book Club: Future Skills

Syllabus Statements from Dean of Students office

Turn It In tool and AI
Vanderbilt and Turn It In

Heather's Hummingbird photo

Next time on the WPTL:
Kevin M. Gannon, We will interview our 2023 Instructional Excellence keynote speaker, and author of Radical Hope: A Teaching Manifesto 

WPTL is a creative endeavor of the staff of the  

Walker Center for Teaching and Learning - http://utc.edu/walker 

at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. - http://utc.edu  

Hosted by Mary Marr and co-hosted and produced by Heather Thach. 

Sound edits by Nick Fontaine, our Digital Media Specialist.   

Pilot shared Summer 2023 

Inaugural Season 1 Fall 2023

Now recording Season 4 for Fall 2026!

We would love to hear from you anytime at [email protected] 

This month's episode is all about "back to school!" Our Walker Center director, Victoria Bryan, shares details about all of our new Week Zero events (Aug. 14-18) and then a special author visit announcement!  My sidekick, and world-traveler, Heather gives us a wildlife minute about her new favorite(after birds).

We thank you for listening and ask you to send us feedback any time, at [email protected] Thanks! Mary Marr

-

-Week Zero Events https://www.utc.edu/academic-affairs/walker-center-for-teaching-and-learning/week-zero

-Small Teaching and Other Books by James Lang https://www.jamesmlang.com/books

-Rocky Mtn Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge https://www.fws.gov/refuge/rocky-mountain-arsenal

-Next time: We take your "AI in the Classroom" questions, but it only works if you send some to us in advance: [email protected] Many thanks to all who have written in this month!

WPTL is a creative endeavor of the staff of the  

Walker Center for Teaching and Learning - http://utc.edu/walker 

at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. - http://utc.edu  

Hosted by Mary Marr and co-hosted and produced by Heather Thach. 

Sound edits by Nick Fontaine, our Digital Media Specialist.   

Pilot shared Summer 2023 

Inaugural Season 1 Fall 2023

Now recording Season 4 for Fall 2026!

We would love to hear from you anytime at [email protected]