The Online Teaching Lounge

Video has become a staple of our everyday lives. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides an inside look at the best ways to use video in your online classroom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discussion spaces are one of the most beneficial components in the online classroom. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen highlights some of the primary and secondary benefits of discussions including teaching students how to interact by following a netiquette guide as well as teaching skills like conflict resolution in the discussion forums. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt attacked or offended by a student's feedback about your teaching? It's hard not to take it personally. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the concept of radical depersonalization and strategies to help teachers listen differently to feedback and criticism. Learn how radical depersonalization can help teachers better understand the needs of students and even help teachers get to know their students better. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it time for you to change jobs or start a new career? In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares tips to help with the transition. Learn why it's important to craft a strong narrative about your career, build a strong network and be prepared to negotiate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen delves into the many facets of gratitude. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Educators must constantly evaluate their teaching style to ensure students are learning. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the strategies of great teachers based on the book “What the Best College Teachers Do.” Learn what questions teachers should ask themselves when planning their next course and other tips to be effective in the online classroom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Student engagement is a critical part of learning. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses how to improve student engagement in the online classroom using available metrics and data. Learn how educators can use that information to adjust assignments to help improve student engagement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being sedentary and not moving your body can have major health impacts and also result in lower energy and lower productivity. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares strategies to incorporate more activity into your work day like using timers to remind you to get up and move around as well as habit stacking, which helps you build more healthy habits into your existing routine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Providing students with choices in assignments can add excitement and increase student creativity. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about ways teachers can add more choices in the online classroom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Efficiency is important, but online educators must be mindful not to sacrifice student relationships for the sake of efficiency. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares eight strategies to consider when working to improve your efficiency while also building relationships and connections with students. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part of learning and stretching is sharing your knowledge with others. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the benefits of presenting at a professional conference. Learn tips on selecting an engaging topic, writing a conference proposal as well as what mistakes to avoid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What motivates you to keep teaching? In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses tools to assess your true drive and how to track the impact you're having as an educator. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quizlet is a very popular flashcard app used in education. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about using Quizlet flashcards to build long-term memory along with suggested ways that students can help create, use and share the flashcard content as part of the course. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many teachers, especially those who are new to online teaching, struggle to figure out how to connect with students. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares ways to establish a relationship and rapport with online students. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teaching online can be time consuming and seep into instructors' personal time. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides insight into how to plan a strong work routine. Learn about the importance of surveying your workload ahead of time, writing it down and tracking it, and reflecting and adapting to improve your time management. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses best practices and quick tips for adding video or other multimedia assets to the online classroom to enhance student learning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listening is both a simple and complex skill. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the importance of “listening” in the online classroom, even when classes are delivered asynchronously. Learn about four types of listening as well as three tools to help online educators effectively respond to students. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What first motivated you to be an educator in the first place? How do you find meaning in your life and work? In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides guidance on how to identify your “why” and how that information can help you get through challenging times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to increase engagement in the classroom, but not sure where to start? In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares three interactive platforms to add a creative approach to student engagement. Learn what platforms work best for asynchronous, synchronous and hybrid classes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Applying classroom learning to the real world can help keep students engaged. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses project-based learning. Hear about this student-centered learning practice that's designed to teach concepts using real world problems and challenges. Learn three steps to apply this in any subject area. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it possible to take a short break or vacation while also teaching an online class? In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares strategies for planning a short time away from the online class. Learn about the importance of communicating time away with students and colleagues, how to work ahead in preparation, and other tips for planning a short break away from the online classroom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explainer videos are a great way to share information with students in a highly engaging way. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides insight into tools to create explainer videos, content options, video length, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The goal of culturally responsive teaching is to help students feel more comfortable, connected and understood in the classroom. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides guidance to help educators invite students to share more about themselves, their background, and their culture to create a more inclusive learning environment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you manage the classroom like a boss or leader? In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares the difference between being a boss and a leader. Learn how being a leader can help develop students, drive motivation and inspire students to success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many students have self-doubt and concerns about taking online classes. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares insight she recently learned from talking to a recent graduate at Commencement. Learn why it's so important for faculty members to understand what causes students to have self-doubt and worry about pursuing an online education. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hear from graduates and faculty members as they celebrate the classes of 2020, 2021, 2022! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It can sometimes be easy for online educators to “hide behind a keyboard.” In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to STEM professor Dr. Sylvia Nemmers about how she uses video to engage her students, provide information and feedback, and build a stronger connection. Learn how she overcame fears of recording herself and realized that using video actually saves her time and makes her more efficient. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are many ways to help students retain information, but one of the most successful ways is through reflective practices. Learn how reflective practices can help students “think about their thinking” and include strategies like journaling, blogging, and other self-directed methods to think more deeply about what they're learning in the online classroom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Online educators sometimes face challenging students who disagree with a grade or are argumentative in the classroom. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses ways to help online educators deal with such conflicts. Learn how to implement de-escalation tactics to meet in the middle, work with colleagues or administrators to get additional support, and finding ways to recover after a stressful situation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Online classrooms offer little information about a person's background and it can be hard to get to know students. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about ways to naturally build diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, into the classroom structure. Learn about the importance of psychological safety, the concept of unconditional positive regard, and being aware of “ingroups” and “outgroups” and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creativity fosters learning so it's important for online teachers to find ways to encourage creativity among students. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares ways to integrate creative approaches in the online classroom. Learn about designing open-ended assignments, being creative with assessments and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Building your presence and persona as an instructor is incredibly important in an online classroom. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about several ways to build your instructor presence. Learn about getting feedback to understand the perception of your personality, actively sharing elements of your personality with students, and making sure you are consistent with your established persona to make students feel comfortable with you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teaching online can be inherently depersonalized, so it's important for online teachers to share enough about themselves so students feel a connection. In this episode, learn about the value of authenticity, building teaching presence and social presence, and how to keep from oversharing with students. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You never know when an emergency or illness may strike. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides tips and strategies to help online educators prepare for unexpected absences, illnesses, or other emergencies. Learn why it's so important to keep your class in order, develop a communication plan, provide emergency contact sheet, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Understanding the students' experience from beginning to end can help educators enhance curriculum and help students be successful. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides steps to map a learner journey including understanding students, designing pathways, mapping the skills gap and establishing a clear goal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pandemic caused the greatest disruption to higher education in the past 150 years. Helping students navigate these changes—including the shift to online education for many—is a major challenge for both student affairs' professionals and teachers. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen and Dr. Jan Spencer talk to Dr. David Ferreira, an APU faculty member and provost at a community college. Learn how institutions of higher education must be ready for their students, how faculty can help students during their online education journey, and why mental health must be front and center for students and faculty alike. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you experiencing burnout? Burnout is serious and can impact your health, happiness, relationships, and work. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the signs of burnout including exhaustion, cynicism and inefficacy. She also discusses ways to rebuild your emotional strength, manage your energy, and find satisfaction in your work again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pandemic accelerated the prevalence of online higher education. While offering online education was a new endeavor for many institutions of higher learning, American Public University has been delivering online, or distance, education for 30 years. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen and Dr. Jan Spencer talk to Dr. Kate Zatz, who served as a university board member for 17 years before becoming Acting President in 2021. Hear insight about navigating rapid growth, the challenges of continuous improvements to technological systems and processes, and the work being done to connect and assist students in an online environment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teaching online can be a challenging experience, and without strong wellbeing habits, teachers risk exhaustion and burnout. Approaching the work with a foundation of specific habits and routines will promote your teaching success and help you approach your work with energy and enthusiasm and a state of peak performance. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares tips to help you plan ahead for wellbeing as you teach online in your next class. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teaching online can be a challenging experience, especially if you are new to the technology or much more experienced with face-to-face teaching. Even if you are experienced at teaching online, a few specific preparation methods before the class begins will promote student success and renewed teacher satisfaction throughout the course. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares tips to help you prepare to teach online before your next class begins, aiming for peak performance in your online teaching. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creating a quality online course is a different process than developing a live, face-to-face class. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares her experience using Quality Matters, a non-profit quality assurance website that provides assessment, standards and rubrics to help online educators design quality online courses that engage students and promote student success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.