MAC Talks - Instructional Design Podcast

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• “Mindset Over Mandate: Why Accessibility Starts with You” 02.05.2025 50分

  In this episode of MAC Talks, host Claire Wilkison teams up with special guests Claudette Jackson (Director of Accommodations & Title IX) and Katie Vise (Accommodations Coordinator) to dive into the real, raw, and sometimes hilarious truths about digital accessibility in higher education.They share powerful "aha" moments—from navigating accommodations for students with disabilities to personal reflections on burnout and self-advocacy. The crew unpacks the new DOJ ruling on accessibility, what it really means for faculty and students, and how institutions can support inclusive design without losing their creative spark.You'll hear:Personal stories that flip the script on how we see disability and accommodationEye-opening insights on why font size and color contrast aren't just design details—they’re access pointsStraight talk on what the DOJ accessibility ruling actually changes (spoiler: it’s more mindset than monster)Tools, tips, and PD opportunities MCC is rolling out to support faculty—no Comic Sans allowedWhether you're an accessibility pro or just starting the journey, this episode brings a blend of wit, wisdom, and warm-hearted advocacy that reminds us: when we design for access, everyone wins.
• Beyond Essays: How Audio Projects Amplify Student Voices 21.03.2025 23分

  Looking to freshen up your classroom? Join us as Jessica Hobbs shares how podcasting has transformed her teaching approach. In this conversation, Jessica explains how replacing traditional essays with audio projects has engaged her students in ways she never expected.Learn how podcasts have helped her students:Connect classroom assignments to real-world applicationsExpress themselves authentically while working effectively with peersDevelop digital communication skills valued in today's workforceApproach literature and research with renewed interestJessica's students are creating everything from historical narratives to community-focused content. If you're wondering how to modernize your teaching methods, this discussion offers practical insights into the educational potential of podcasting.Designed for educators who want to enhance their teaching toolkit without compromising learning outcomes. See how audio projects might work in your classroom.
• Hacking Hyflex & AI: A Deep Dive with Joshua Sullwold 03.03.2025 47分

  In this episode, we sit down with Joshua Sullwold, a tech-savvy educator from MCC’s Computer Information Systems department, to talk all things Hyflex teaching, cybersecurity, and AI in education. From web development to cybersecurity, Joshua’s classroom is a digital playground—except when Hyflex makes things a little chaotic.We explore the challenges and strategies of Hyflex teaching, including the art of balancing in-person and online students without leaving anyone in the digital dust. Plus, we dive into AI’s role in education, from generating discussion prompts to predicting assignment difficulties—because who doesn’t want a little AI-powered magic in their workflow?And if you’ve ever wondered about the future of AI (spoiler: it’s not taking over just yet), Joshua shares his thoughts on where the tech is heading and how educators can prepare.Tune in for an insightful, engaging, and tech-forward conversation that might just change the way you think about teaching in the digital age!Hosts:John Ghazzagh - Coordinator, Instructional DesignTJ Waldie - Instructional Application Specialist
• Tech Trends in Higher Ed for 2025 21.01.2025 46分

  Welcome to 2025! The Instructional Design and Innovation team return with what they think are the top Instructional Design and Technology trends in Higher Education for 2025 are and what they think that means for McLennan Community College. Episode Breakdown 1-14 minutes : Icebreaker, getting to know Krystal our newest Instructional Designer. 15-46 Minutes: John, Claire, TJ and Krystal talk about trends in Instructional Design like A.I., Gamification, Collaborative Learning and more. Hosts: John Ghazzagh, Coordinator Instructional Design Claire Wilkison, Instructional Designer Krystal Garcia, Instructional Designer TJ Waldie, Instructional Application Specialist
• PD Resource - Accessibility Law 13.09.2024 13分

  This episode of MAC Talks is a resource for our Accessibility Law Professional Development course. You don't have to take it to listen though! This episode has been generated entirely by Google's NotebookLM AI software. https://notebooklm.google.com/ To learn more about Accessibility Law or Google's NotebookLM reach out to us at online@mclennan.edu
• Tim Mousel, The Educational AI Black Belt 22.05.2024 43分

  Welcome to the latest episode of MAC Talks, where hosts John Ghazzagh and Richard Leslie sit down with Tim Mousel, the AI wizard moonlighting as a kinesiology professor at Lone Star College. Tim talks about how he went from MMA studio owner to AI aficionado, creating game-changing tools like Pocket AI and eFit software. We also get Tim's thoughts on the wild world of AI in education, where it is and where we are heading. Tim Mousel - LinkedIN eFit Software PocketAI John Ghazzagh - LinkedIN
• Czech It Out- Interview with our Czech Exchange Students 13.05.2024 42分

  In this special episode of MAC Talks, we have 3 special guests: Czech exchange students that are taking classes and working at MCC! These amazing students share their experiences here in the US and at McLennan Community College.
• Live from Faculty Summer Institute - A.I. in Higher Education Instruction with Kathleen Hicks 09.05.2024 49分

  In this podcast episode, Kathleen Hicks, Director of Online Learning for English at Arizona State University, shares her experiences integrating generative AI into teaching and course development. She discusses the challenges and benefits of using tools like Chat GPT to create targeted content for students, and emphasizes the importance of teaching students about AI ethics and academic integrity. Kathleen also highlights the potential of AI to enhance interdisciplinary learning and the need for educators to prepare themselves and their students for its widespread use in the future. The conversation concludes with Kathleen presenting AI-generated business proposals that improved student writing and communication skills, and encouraging faculty to experiment with AI tools to address specific learning challenges in their courses. Kathleen Hicks, ASU John Ghazzagh, McLennan Community College
• The OER Revolution: How Open Licensing is Changing the Game in Higher Ed with Joanna Schimizzi 29.04.2024 37分

  In this episode, Joanna shares her passion for Open Educational Resources (OER) and how they can transform higher education. Discover how OER empowers educators to freely share, reuse and remix teaching materials to benefit students. Joanna shares her insights on the cost-saving and creative potential of OER, the importance of proper attribution, and how building an OER community can help teachers find support. Tune in to learn how you can leverage OER to enhance your courses without reinventing the wheel!  Joanna Schimizzi - LinkedIN John Ghazzagh - LinkedIN Jessica Zbeda - LinkedIN Mary Sides - LinkedIN
• Beyond the Stacks: The Evolving Role of Librarians in Online Education 28.03.2024 40分

  Join us for an insightful conversation with Michaela McCown, Associate Professor of Environmental Science, and Kristen Cook, Research Librarian, as we delve into the world of embedded librarianship on MAC Talks. As online education continues to grow, librarians are stepping out from behind the stacks and into virtual classrooms. Discover how this collaborative approach between librarians and faculty is transforming research support and enriching the online learning landscape. In this Episode: John Ghazzagh - Instructional Designer Michaela McCown - Associate Professor Kristen Cook - Research Librarian
• Lights, Camera, Education! - with Jennifer Chapman 11.03.2024 33分

  In this episode, we'll be exploring the world of education with Jennifer Chapman, Assistant Professor of Child Development & Education at McLennan Community College. Join us as Jennifer discusses the nuances of teaching, the attrition of educators, and her compassionate approach to connecting with students through online videos. It's a thoughtful conversation that will leave you with a deeper understanding of the challenges and joys of the teaching profession. ⁠⁠Jennifer Chapman ⁠⁠Instructional Design Team⁠⁠ - Richard Leslie, John Ghazzagh, Claire Wilkison, Tereza Mihulová. ⁠⁠MCC Instructional Design and Innovation⁠⁠⁠ Website Follow us on Instagram, send us your comments or suggestions - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/⁠
• Goodbye, Grades? Hello, Projects! - with Travis Cox 26.02.2024 44分

  ⁠In this episode, we're hanging out with Travis Cox, Associate Professor of Communication Studies at McLennan Community College. Get this - he's tossed the traditional grading playbook out the window. Instead, Travis is all about using projects to see what his students have really learned. And when it comes to feedback? He's ditching the red pen for something way cooler - personalized video messages. Oh, and he's a bit of a podcast enthusiast too. He's even had his students critique some of our episodes and, get this, turn podcasts into projects. How cool is that? ⁠Travis Cox ⁠Instructional Design Team⁠ - Richard Leslie, John Ghazzagh, Claire Wilkison, Tereza Mihulová. ⁠MCC Instructional Design and Innovation⁠⁠ Website Follow us on Instagram, send us your comments or suggestions - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/⁠
• A Chat with Dr. Fred Hills (Part 2) 19.11.2023 21分

  Part 2 of a 2 Part Podcast. ⁠Dr. Fred Hills, Assistant Vice President of Instruction and Student Engagement for McLennan Community Colleg⁠e talks with us about High Impact Practices, Student Engagement and Open Educational Resources. Follow us on Instagram, send us your comments or suggestions - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/⁠
• A Chat with Dr. Fred Hills (Part 1) 13.11.2023 34分

  Part I of a 2 Part Podcast. Dr. Fred Hills, Vice President of Instruction and Student Engagement for Mclennan Community College talks with us about High Impact Practices, Student Engagement and what the future of Higher Education looks like. Dr. Fred Hills Instructional Design Team - Richard Leslie, John Ghazzagh, Claire Wilkison. MCC Instructional Design and Innovation⁠ Website Follow us on Instagram, send us your comments or suggestions - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/⁠
• Networking with Christopher Morris 15.10.2023 38分

  Christopher Morris talks about being a new instructor in Higher Ed, adding comedy to the classroom (and to the podcast!), the challenges of teaching Hyflex and continuously growing. If you're interested in us covering a topic  about course design, or if you'd like to guest star...or both, shoot us  an email: online@mclennan.edu Christopher Morris - Associate Professor Claire Wilkison, Instructional Designer John Ghazzagh, Instructional Designer TJ Waldie, Instructional Technologist Instructional Designers - Connect with us on our Discord Network! MCC Instructional Design and Innovation Website Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/
• Engineering a Hyflex-able Class 08.10.2023 36分

  In this episode of Mac Talks, Paulina Sidwell, a professor at MCC, shares her journey to becoming a professor and discusses the HyFlex mode of teaching that encourages innovation through starting small. Paulina discusses the flexibility and convenience of Hyflex for students, but also the time and preparation instructors must commit to do it well. Additionally, we talk about the use of 3D printers in engineering education and how the engineering program emphasizes practical learning through projects and research. If you're interested in us covering a topic  about course design, or if you'd like to guest star...or both, shoot us  an email: online@mclennan.edu Paulina Sidwell, Professor of Engineering - Connect on LinkedIN John Ghazzagh, Instructional Designer - Connect on LinkedIN Instructional Designers - Connect with us on our Discord Network! MCC Instructional Design and Innovation Website Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/
• Katherine's last episode, now with A.I. 04.10.2023 45分

  In this episode of Mac Talks, Instructional Designers Katherine, John, Claire and Instructional Technologist TJ talk about A.I. in higher education and what to look for this school year. We also discuss Katherine's last day at MCC. If you're interested in us covering a topic  about course design, or if you'd like to guest star...or both, shoot us  an email: online@mclennan.edu Katherine Franker, Instructional Designer John Ghazzagh, Instructional Designer Claire Wilkison, Instructional Designer TJ Waldie, Instructional Technologist Instructional Designers - Connect with us on our Discord Network! MCC Instructional Design and Innovation Website Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/
• The Magic of Quality Online Course Design 17.04.2023 38分

  This week on MAC Talks, we talk about our process for online course quality and how it's not just an Instructional Design thing. Faculty, directors and deans all play an important role in making sure our online courses meet high standards. We also discuss what we look for as instructional designers to ensure courses meet our high quality standards. If you're interested in checking out our PGP (Principles of Good Practice) form, there's a link to it on our website here: https://www.mclennan.edu/center-for-teaching-and-learning/ If you're interested in us covering a topic  about course design, or if you'd like to guest star...or both, shoot us  an email: online@mclennan.edu Instructional Design Team/Hosts: John Ghazzagh, Katherine Beech, TJ Waldie Instructional Designers - Connect with us on our Discord Network! MCC Instructional Design and Innovation Website and Contact Information Follow us on Instagram, send us your comments or suggestions - https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/
• "Find a Way, or Make One" 13.03.2023 38分

  In this episode we sit down with Felicia Gladden, Professor of Government.  We talk about what inspired her to become a professor and what brought her to MCC.  Felicia also talks about her teaching philosophies, the challenges she faces with students in a post-COVID world.   If you're interested in us covering a topic  about course design, or if you'd like to guest star...or both, shoot us  an email: online@mclennan.edu Guest: Felicia Gladden- Connect on LinkedIN - Felicia's Podcast: Conversations with Community Members Host: John Ghazzagh - Connect on LinkedIN Instructional Designers - Connect with us on our Discord Network! MCC Instructional Design and Innovation Website Follow us on Instagram, send us your comments or suggestions - https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/
• Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges 27.02.2023 36分

  In this episode we chat with Starlen Roddy, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Specialist and Adjunct Instructor at McLennan Community College.  We talk with Starlen about his background, how he came to MCC and how he became a DEI specialist.    We also explore how faculty and staff can create a more inclusive culture for students.  If you're interested in us covering a topic  about course design, or if you'd like to guest star...or both, shoot us  an email: online@mclennan.edu Follow us on Instagram, send us your comments or suggestions - https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/ Still using Facebook?  WELL WE ARE TOO!  Feel free to follow our antics. Website: https://www.mclennan.edu/center-for-teaching-and-learning/index.html Guest: Starlen Roddy - LinkedIN Hosts: Claire Wilkison, Katherine Franker - MCC Instructional Design and Innovation