Digication Scholars Conversations

In part two of this three-part Digication Scholars Conversations, our guest, Dr. David Hubert, continues to talk about practical strategies for improving students' engagement and promoting an integrated learning environment. You'll be astounded, listening to Dr. David, professor of Political Science and Associate Provost of Learning Advancement at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC), break down issues in community colleges, including: - Sustainability of programs (initiatives) - Balancing the teacher's expertise with the student's ideas and personality - Improving students' engagement - And a lot more... Links to Dr. David Hubert's OER can be found here: https://slcc.pressbooks.pub/attenuateddemocracy/ His SLCC’s ePortfolio information is here: https://www.slcc.edu/eportfolio For more information about this podcast, please visit our podcast website using the link below: https://podcast.digication.com Listen on Apple Podcasts using the link below: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digication-scholars-conversations/id1538850043 Follow us on Social Media! Twitter: https://twitter.com/digication Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digication Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makelearningvisible Digication is a technology platform powering the most innovative ePortfolio programs in K-12 and higher education. Please visit our website at http://www.digication.com

Discover practical strategies for improving student engagement to help promote an integrated learning environment. Hear Dr. David Hubert, professor of Political Science and Associate Provost of Learning Advancement at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC), break it down. Including: - The real value of a college education - Improving students' engagement - The benefits of Open Education Resources (OERs) - And a lot more... Links to Dr. David Huberts' OER can be found here: https://slcc.pressbooks.pub/attenuateddemocracy/ His SLCC’s ePortfolio information is here: https://www.slcc.edu/eportfolio

As Howard Wach explains in this three part Digication Scholars Conversation with host Jeff Yan, Guttman Community College is not your typical community college. Opened in 2012 with a unique structure designed to address the high student attrition rate common in community colleges, Guttman only enrolls full-time students and was originally created without academic departments. With an established career in the CUNY system, first as a professor of history, and then as an administrator holding various dean level positions at LaGuardia and Bronx Community College, Howard has brought a wealth of experience and bold honesty to the challenging role of Vice-president of Academic Affairs and Provost at Guttman, from which he recently retired. Over the course of the conversation Jeff and Howard discuss a number of universal issues facing higher education, including decreasing enrollment and the intrusion of partisan politics, as well as challenges specific to Guttman, including the difficulties of catering to a diverse student-body from lower-income backgrounds with a campus located in the affluent borough of Manhattan. Despite the challenges, Howard reflects positively on his career with CUNY. “I had an opportunity to do a lot of different things in these different institutional spaces that I found myself in, and I feel a lot of gratitude. I feel fortunate to have been able to do that and I think made some kind of a difference in the places that I worked.”

As Howard Wach explains in this three part Digication Scholars Conversation with host Jeff Yan, Guttman Community College is not your typical community college. Opened in 2012 with a unique structure designed to address the high student attrition rate common in community colleges, Guttman only enrolls full-time students and was originally created without academic departments. With an established career in the CUNY system, first as a professor of history, and then as an administrator holding various dean level positions at LaGuardia and Bronx Community College, Howard has brought a wealth of experience and bold honesty to the challenging role of Vice-president of Academic Affairs and Provost at Guttman, from which he recently retired. Over the course of the conversation Jeff and Howard discuss a number of universal issues facing higher education, including decreasing enrollment and the intrusion of partisan politics, as well as challenges specific to Guttman, including the difficulties of catering to a diverse student-body from lower-income backgrounds with a campus located in the affluent borough of Manhattan. Despite the challenges, Howard reflects positively on his career with CUNY. “I had an opportunity to do a lot of different things in these different institutional spaces that I found myself in, and I feel a lot of gratitude. I feel fortunate to have been able to do that and I think made some kind of a difference in the places that I worked.”

As Howard Wach explains in this three part Digication Scholars Conversation with host Jeff Yan, Guttman Community College is not your typical community college. Opened in 2012 with a unique structure designed to address the high student attrition rate common in community colleges, Guttman only enrolls full-time students and was originally created without academic departments. With an established career in the CUNY system, first as a professor of history, and then as an administrator holding various dean level positions at LaGuardia and Bronx Community College, Howard has brought a wealth of experience and bold honesty to the challenging role of Vice-president of Academic Affairs and Provost at Guttman, from which he recently retired. Over the course of the conversation Jeff and Howard discuss a number of universal issues facing higher education, including decreasing enrollment and the intrusion of partisan politics, as well as challenges specific to Guttman, including the difficulties of catering to a diverse student-body from lower-income backgrounds with a campus located in the affluent borough of Manhattan. Despite the challenges, Howard reflects positively on his career with CUNY. “I had an opportunity to do a lot of different things in these different institutional spaces that I found myself in, and I feel a lot of gratitude. I feel fortunate to have been able to do that and I think made some kind of a difference in the places that I worked.”

Part 2 of 2 Alison Carson is the Associate Provost for Academic Innovation and Design Thinking and a Professor of Psychology at Manhattanville College. In this Digication Scholars Conversation, Alison describes her role in promoting awareness and appreciation for design thinking among the faculty and students of Manhattanville, and describes the school’s newly created certificate in design thinking. While acknowledging the challenges of fostering understanding and willingness to adopt new methods, her commitment to design thinking continually leads to innovative teaching and student success across an array of disciplines. Alison and host Kelly Driscoll discuss a number of these successes, including the school’s Atlas program, incorporating ePortfolio into advising, and a recent marketing capstone bringing in four female entrepreneurs to mentor students. Throughout, Alison emphasizes the importance of empathy throughout the design process. “If you’re trying to … solve a particular problem, you have to understand the problem from the point of view of the person who’s actually experiencing that problem.”

Part 1 of 2 Alison Carson is the Associate Provost for Academic Innovation and Design Thinking and a Professor of Psychology at Manhattanville College. In this Digication Scholars Conversation, Alison describes her role in promoting awareness and appreciation for design thinking among the faculty and students of Manhattanville, and describes the school’s newly created certificate in design thinking. While acknowledging the challenges of fostering understanding and willingness to adopt new methods, her commitment to design thinking continually leads to innovative teaching and student success across an array of disciplines. Alison and host Kelly Driscoll discuss a number of these successes, including the school’s Atlas program, incorporating ePortfolio into advising, and a recent marketing capstone bringing in four female entrepreneurs to mentor students. Throughout, Alison emphasizes the importance of empathy throughout the design process. “If you’re trying to … solve a particular problem, you have to understand the problem from the point of view of the person who’s actually experiencing that problem.”

(Part 2 of 2) Kate LaBore is the Technology and Media Professional in the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. In this Digication Scholars Conversation, Kate and Digication CEO Jeff Yan discuss the challenges of implementing ePortfolio at scale in a large research institution, and the importance of integrating ePortfolio with the campus Learning Management System. While acknowledging the difficulty of promoting awareness of ePortfolio and other high impact practices among instructors, Kate, emphasizes the excitement of finding instructors that “get” ePortfolio, and stresses the potential for these instructors to lead their colleagues to a deeper level of understanding of the pedagogy. The conversation concludes with an in-depth discussion on the importance of creating accessible content and resources for students. “It’s empathy. It's being able to see the world through the eyes of someone who has a different way of being in the world than you do.”

(Part 1 of 2) Kate LaBore is the Technology and Media Professional in the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. In this Digication Scholars Conversation, Kate and Digication CEO Jeff Yan discuss the challenges of implementing ePortfolio at scale in a large research institution, and the importance of integrating ePortfolio with the campus Learning Management System. While acknowledging the difficulty of promoting awareness of ePortfolio and other high impact practices among instructors, Kate, emphasizes the excitement of finding instructors that “get” ePortfolio, and stresses the potential for these instructors to lead their colleagues to a deeper level of understanding of the pedagogy. The conversation concludes with an in-depth discussion on the importance of creating accessible content and resources for students. “It’s empathy. It's being able to see the world through the eyes of someone who has a different way of being in the world than you do.”

(Part 2 of 2) Shamai Thacker is an ePortfolio strategist at University of Alaska Anchorage. In this Digication Scholars Conversation, Shamai and host, Kelly Driscoll, discuss the challenges and triumphs she encountered while receiving a master of education in teaching and learning. Now pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in Alaska Native Language and Studies, Shamai shares her journey of developing a deeper connection to her Alaska Native heritage. While a family background in commercial fishing led to a complicated and at times inconsistent educational experience, Shamai has channeled these experiences into a desire to mentor and guide students coming from similar situations. “I feel a connection…and my passion for educating and for trying to be a voice and for trying to be a supportive person has not wavered… I feel that there is a lot of value in people seeing others’ journeys and what that means and how it's shaped them.”

(Part 1 of 2) Shamai Thacker is an ePortfolio strategist at University of Alaska Anchorage. In this Digication Scholars Conversation, Shamai and host, Kelly Driscoll, discuss the challenges and triumphs she encountered while receiving a master of education in teaching and learning. Now pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in Alaska Native Language and Studies, Shamai shares her journey of developing a deeper connection to her Alaska Native heritage. While a family background in commercial fishing led to a complicated and at times inconsistent educational experience, Shamai has channeled these experiences into a desire to mentor and guide students coming from similar situations. “I feel a connection…and my passion for educating and for trying to be a voice and for trying to be a supportive person has not wavered… I feel that there is a lot of value in people seeing others’ journeys and what that means and how it's shaped them.”

(Part 2 of 2) As the Director of Academic Peer Advising and Coordinator for Strategic Initiatives in the College of Arts and Sciences at Oberlin College, Nathan Carpenter is a leader of campus ePortfolio programs and efforts. Nathan recently sat down with Jeff Yan for a two-part Digication Scholars Conversation covering the many facets of his role at Oberlin. In Part 1, they discuss the two programs Nathan leads: the Peer Advising Leaders (PALs) program, and the Sophomore Opportunities and Academic Resources (SOAR) program. Nathan explains the benefits of peer-advising as a supplement to traditional academic advising. “I think it can be really helpful to see someone who was in your shoes not too long ago, and to know that they have a real understanding of the holistic experience.” He also introduces the concept of a “River Journey,” an idea used in the SOAR program to help students visualize their path through higher education and beyond. In Part 2, they discuss Oberlin’s recently launched integrative concentrations, combining coursework with real world experiences, and they speculate on the future of digital communication in higher education. “I think that one of the new frontiers probably at all levels of education, including higher ed, is going to be thinking about how communication and collaboration can happen in a truly constructive way in a digital space.”

(Part 1 of 2) As the Director of Academic Peer Advising and Coordinator for Strategic Initiatives in the College of Arts and Sciences at Oberlin College, Nathan Carpenter is a leader of campus ePortfolio programs and efforts. Nathan recently sat down with Jeff Yan for a two-part Digication Scholars Conversation covering the many facets of his role at Oberlin. In Part 1, they discuss the two programs Nathan leads: the Peer Advising Leaders (PALs) program, and the Sophomore Opportunities and Academic Resources (SOAR) program. Nathan explains the benefits of peer-advising as a supplement to traditional academic advising. “I think it can be really helpful to see someone who was in your shoes not too long ago, and to know that they have a real understanding of the holistic experience.” He also introduces the concept of a “River Journey,” an idea used in the SOAR program to help students visualize their path through higher education and beyond. In Part 2, they discuss Oberlin’s recently launched integrative concentrations, combining coursework with real world experiences, and they speculate on the future of digital communication in higher education. “I think that one of the new frontiers probably at all levels of education, including higher ed, is going to be thinking about how communication and collaboration can happen in a truly constructive way in a digital space.”

Episode NotesTracy is author, co-author and co-editor of several books including :Becoming: Transformative Storytelling for Education's Future (Transformative Imaginings: Critical Visions for the Past-Present-Future of Education), by Laura Colket (Editor), Tracy Penny Light (Editor), Adam Carswell (Editor) | May 19, 2021 Feminist Pedagogy in Higher Education: Critical Theory and Practice, 2015Bodily Subjects: Essays on Gender and Health, 1800-2000, Tracy Penny Light] | February, 2015Documenting Learning with ePortfolios: A Guide for College Instructors, Helen L. Chen, John C. Ittelson, and Tracy Penny Light, November 18, 2011Electronic Portfolios and Student Success: Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Learning by Chen Helen L. Light, Tracy Penny, July 1, 2010

Episode NotesTracy is author, co-author and co-editor of several books including :Becoming: Transformative Storytelling for Education's Future (Transformative Imaginings: Critical Visions for the Past-Present-Future of Education), by Laura Colket (Editor), Tracy Penny Light (Editor), Adam Carswell (Editor) | May 19, 2021 Feminist Pedagogy in Higher Education: Critical Theory and Practice, 2015Bodily Subjects: Essays on Gender and Health, 1800-2000, Tracy Penny Light] | February, 2015Documenting Learning with ePortfolios: A Guide for College Instructors, Helen L. Chen, John C. Ittelson, and Tracy Penny Light, November 18, 2011Electronic Portfolios and Student Success: Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Learning by Chen Helen L. Light, Tracy Penny, July 1, 2010

Episode Notes:Joe's Reflection Collection cards can be found on his website, here: https://www.joetranquillo.com/reflectioncollection

Episode Notes:Joe's Reflection Collection cards can be found on his website, here: https://www.joetranquillo.com/reflectioncollection

Episode Notes:Joe's Reflection Collection cards can be found on his website, here: https://www.joetranquillo.com/reflectioncollection

John Regan, Master Lecturer in the Department of Rhetoric and Director of ePortfolio and Assessment at Boston University’s College of General Studies, shares his experiences in leading an annual study abroad trip to London, explaining how such trips provide the opportunity for in-depth experiential learning. “If you construct an assignment where you have classroom discussion around a topic, the students do independent research and then go out and apply that research in a real world context. It's a powerful triad. I think it’s just remarkable.” Drawing on years of experience as the college’s Director of ePortfolio and Assessment, John offers guidance on encouraging reticent colleagues to embrace ePortfolio based assessment, recommending a “start small” approach. Additional topics covered include the need for transparency in college spending, and the importance of diversifying curriculum by balancing out classic texts with alternate perspectives from marginalized voices.

John Regan, Master Lecturer in the Department of Rhetoric and Director of ePortfolio and Assessment at Boston University’s College of General Studies, shares his experiences in leading an annual study abroad trip to London, explaining how such trips provide the opportunity for in-depth experiential learning. “If you construct an assignment where you have classroom discussion around a topic, the students do independent research and then go out and apply that research in a real world context. It's a powerful triad. I think it’s just remarkable.” Drawing on years of experience as the college’s Director of ePortfolio and Assessment, John offers guidance on encouraging reticent colleagues to embrace ePortfolio based assessment, recommending a “start small” approach. Additional topics covered include the need for transparency in college spending, and the importance of diversifying curriculum by balancing out classic texts with alternate perspectives from marginalized voices.

Episode Notes:C. Edward Watson's website can be found here: https://eddiewatson.net/Edward's two books can be found here:Teaching Naked Techniques: A Practical Guide to Designing Better ClassesPlaying to Learn with Reacting to the Past: Research on High Impact, Active Learning PracticesMore information about the AAC&U VALUE Institute can be found here: https://www.aacu.org/initiatives/valueMore information about the International Journal of ePortfolio (IJeP) can be found here: https://theijep.com/

Episode Notes:C. Edward Watson's website can be found here: https://eddiewatson.net/Edward's two books can be found here:Teaching Naked Techniques: A Practical Guide to Designing Better ClassesPlaying to Learn with Reacting to the Past: Research on High Impact, Active Learning PracticesMore information about the AAC&U VALUE Institute can be found here: https://www.aacu.org/initiatives/valueMore information about the International Journal of ePortfolio (IJeP) can be found here: https://theijep.com/

Episode Notes:More information about the Northeastern University Corporate and Organizational Communication and Human Resource Management ePortfolios and ePortfolio Showcase Winners can be found here: https://northeastern.digication.com/coc-hrm-eportfolio-virtual-office/homeTake a Look at the extraordinary ePortfolios created by the 2021 ePortfolio Showcase winners:https://northeastern.digication.com/dominiquemiddleton/about-mehttps://northeastern.digication.com/stephanie-foner/Homehttps://northeastern.digication.com/kristi-stephens/about-mehttps://northeastern.digication.com/natalie-timperio-mscoc-eportfolio/abouthttps://northeastern.digication.com/lisarleth-perez/Homehttps://northeastern.digication.com/armayas-eportfolio/about-mehttps://northeastern.digication.com/simonliao/about-me

Episode Notes:More information about the Northeastern University Corporate and Organizational Communication and Human Resource Management ePortfolios and ePortfolio Showcase Winners can be found here: https://northeastern.digication.com/coc-hrm-eportfolio-virtual-office/homeTake a Look at the extraordinary ePortfolios created by the 2021 ePortfolio Showcase winners:https://northeastern.digication.com/dominiquemiddleton/about-mehttps://northeastern.digication.com/stephanie-foner/Homehttps://northeastern.digication.com/kristi-stephens/about-mehttps://northeastern.digication.com/natalie-timperio-mscoc-eportfolio/abouthttps://northeastern.digication.com/lisarleth-perez/Homehttps://northeastern.digication.com/armayas-eportfolio/about-mehttps://northeastern.digication.com/simonliao/about-me

In this Digication Scholars Conversation, Jill Petersen Adams describes her multifaceted role at Oxford College of Emory University as “Part professor, part travel agent.” Jill is a Senior Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Studies and Director of Global Learning and Undergraduate Research Studies - a role that includes teaching students, as well as overseeing experiential learning programs such as community engaged learning and global learning. Jill discusses the importance of student reflection, but stresses that it shouldn’t just be retrospective, but should instead be incorporated cyclically, throughout the experience. As an example, she discusses a recent global learning course, which was originally intended to be taught in Japan. Jill explains to host, Jeff Yan, how ePortfolio helped to meet the challenge of teaching the class online in the wake of COVID19, and helped her appreciate technology for its abilities to help students synthesize learning. The conversation then touches on Jill’s love for martial arts, her experience with cancer, and the role that both have played in informing her philosophy of learning. “That experience...helped me kind of reconsider my embodiment in the classroom and as a scholar, and accepting my limits. Where can I push through? Where can I not push through? What do I learn from that? And how can I better support students in understanding their own learning process?”

In this Digication Scholars Conversation, Jill Petersen Adams describes her multifaceted role at Oxford College of Emory University as “Part professor, part travel agent.” Jill is a Senior Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Studies and Director of Global Learning and Undergraduate Research Studies - a role that includes teaching students, as well as overseeing experiential learning programs such as community engaged learning and global learning. Jill discusses the importance of student reflection, but stresses that it shouldn’t just be retrospective, but should instead be incorporated cyclically, throughout the experience. As an example, she discusses a recent global learning course, which was originally intended to be taught in Japan. Jill explains to host, Jeff Yan, how ePortfolio helped to meet the challenge of teaching the class online in the wake of COVID19, and helped her appreciate technology for its abilities to help students synthesize learning. The conversation then touches on Jill’s love for martial arts, her experience with cancer, and the role that both have played in informing her philosophy of learning. “That experience...helped me kind of reconsider my embodiment in the classroom and as a scholar, and accepting my limits. Where can I push through? Where can I not push through? What do I learn from that? And how can I better support students in understanding their own learning process?”

During his time as a Navy Submariner, Kem Barfield learned many valuable lessons about leadership and problem solving. Now, in his role as Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at Three Rivers Community College, he regularly calls upon the steady sense of resolve gained during his Naval experience in order to overcome the inherent challenges of educating and supporting students at a community college. In this Digication Scholars Conversation, Kem walks host Jeff Yan through several such challenges, including leading ePortfolio and assessment efforts on campus, and responding to COVID19 in a decisively vigilant yet flexible manner. He then discusses his contribution to the book Transforming Digital Learning and Assessment, which covers using ePortfolio to undertake assessment for prior learning, a practice which allows adult students from diverse backgrounds to receive college credit for their experiences outside of academia. Though not a major source of revenue for the college, he explains, it is an important act of support for these students. According to Kem, this is a fundamental purpose of a community college. “The average student needs a lot more guidance. They need support. I think then when you're talking about what community colleges do, we're the people that are the practitioners of education -- that actually do provide all that extra guidance.”

Episode Notes:The book mentioned in the episode, Transforming Digital Learning and Assessment, can be found here: https://styluspub.presswarehouse.com/browse/book/9781620369876/Transforming-Digital-Learning-and-Assessment

Episode Notes:The book Murillo mentions at 27:50, Let's Talk About Hard Things by Anna Sale can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55710579-let-s-talk-about-hard-things

As an assistant dean at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Murillo Soranso played an integral role in leading and developing the school’s First Year Experience program. Each year 2200 incoming freshmen, led by peer educators, are introduced to campus life and encouraged to create goals for their educational journey in this 8-week program. In his conversation with host, Jeff Yan, Murillo shares how he and his colleagues incorporate design thinking into the program, taking guidance and inspiration from Stanford University’s d.School. He relates the concepts of design thinking to his own lifelong love of learning, and his experiences in pursuing higher education after immigrating to the U.S. from Brazil. “We want them to practice things like being curious and being open to failure and trying things out and getting outside of their comfort zone and radical collaboration. These are all mindsets that in some way live in design thinking” The conversation concludes with Murillo sharing his observations regarding the prevalent desire for mental health support and resources among students, and the vital need for educators to consider their own role in the campus mental health crisis. Note: since the recording of this conversation in the summer of 2021, Murillo has accepted a position at a different organization.

Episode Notes:Paul's book, Creating Wicked Students: Designing Courses for a Complex World can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Wicked-Students-Designing-Courses/dp/1620366975

Episode Notes:Paul's book, Creating Wicked Students: Designing Courses for a Complex World can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Wicked-Students-Designing-Courses/dp/1620366975

Peter McLellan joins host Jeff Yan to discuss his experiences leading the ePortfolio program at Oxford College of Emory University. Early in the conversation, Peter shares an explanation of his primary research interest, the field of Hauntology: “How do people that we don’t see, or people from the past . . . impact us in the present and make demands on us, oftentimes demands for justice, to create a better future?” Peter explains how Hauntology informs his efforts to create antiracist curriculum by taking seriously the knowledge and experiences that students bring with them to the university. The curriculum is designed for a majority non-white, lower income student body through an approach that carefully considers the demands of unseen individuals. The conversation continues with a discussion of faculty engagement, as Peter shares his past successes and strategies in convincing hesitant faculty members to adopt ePortfolio. “Portfolios sell themselves . . . So, it’s a matter of talking to folks about what a reflective and integrated curriculum looks like in the liberal arts.”

Peter McLellan joins host Jeff Yan to discuss his experiences leading the ePortfolio program at Oxford College of Emory University. Early in the conversation, Peter shares an explanation of his primary research interest, the field of Hauntology: “How do people that we don’t see, or people from the past . . . impact us in the present and make demands on us, oftentimes demands for justice, to create a better future?” Peter explains how Hauntology informs his efforts to create antiracist curriculum by taking seriously the knowledge and experiences that students bring with them to the university. The curriculum is designed for a majority non-white, lower income student body through an approach that carefully considers the demands of unseen individuals. The conversation continues with a discussion of faculty engagement, as Peter shares his past successes and strategies in convincing hesitant faculty members to adopt ePortfolio. “Portfolios sell themselves . . . So, it’s a matter of talking to folks about what a reflective and integrated curriculum looks like in the liberal arts.”

In this wide-ranging Digication Scholars Conversation, Boston University’s Natalie McKnight and host Jeff Yan cover a number of topics, starting with how the meaning of “culture” on campus has evolved over time, and the role that Natalie plays in creating and maintaining campus culture and values in her role as Dean in the College of General Studies. In offering a definition of General Studies, Natalie describes a culture of viewing topics and issues through the lens of multiple disciplines and forming connections between seemingly unrelated areas. They go on to discuss the mental health crisis in higher education and the ways that student attitudes have evolved to value social responsibility and inclusivity over the pursuit of high-paying careers. “I derive a lot of hope, looking at these students and their wisdom on these issues, and their embracing of inclusivity, not because it's trendy, but because it's right.”

In this wide-ranging Digication Scholars Conversation, Boston University’s Natalie McKnight and host Jeff Yan cover a number of topics, starting with how the meaning of “culture” on campus has evolved over time, and the role that Natalie plays in creating and maintaining campus culture and values in her role as Dean in the College of General Studies. In offering a definition of General Studies, Natalie describes a culture of viewing topics and issues through the lens of multiple disciplines and forming connections between seemingly unrelated areas. They go on to discuss the mental health crisis in higher education and the ways that student attitudes have evolved to value social responsibility and inclusivity over the pursuit of high-paying careers. “I derive a lot of hope, looking at these students and their wisdom on these issues, and their embracing of inclusivity, not because it's trendy, but because it's right.”

Episode Notes:More information about Jill's book, Situated Narratives and Sacred Dance: Performing the Entangled Histories of Cuba and West Africa can be found here: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departments/theatre-and-dance/secrets-under-the-skin/The public ePortfolios of Jill's students which are mentioned during the conversation are listed below:Kavya Bhagawatula - https://alaska.digication.com/kavya-bhagawatula-copy-for-jill-dance-370-f20/home-1/published Abbigale Seitz - https://alaska.digication.com/dnce-370-abbigales-portfolio-copy-for-jill-f20/home-1/published Tess Zernzack Hagensieker - https://alaska.digication.com/tess-dance-repertoire-and-performance-copy-for-jill/home-1/published Panika Teeple - https://alaska.digication.com/panika-teeple-copy-for-jill-of-dance-370/home-1/published Lily Myers - https://alaska.digication.com/lily-myers-dance-research-copy-for-jill-f20/home-1/published Blake Blanning - https://alaska.digication.com/blake-blanning-interdisciplinary-dance-studies-copy-for-jill-dance-370-f20/home-1/published

Episode Notes:More information about Jill's book, Situated Narratives and Sacred Dance: Performing the Entangled Histories of Cuba and West Africa can be found here: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departments/theatre-and-dance/secrets-under-the-skin/The public ePortfolios of Jill's students which are mentioned during the conversation are listed below:Kavya Bhagawatula - https://alaska.digication.com/kavya-bhagawatula-copy-for-jill-dance-370-f20/home-1/published Abbigale Seitz - https://alaska.digication.com/dnce-370-abbigales-portfolio-copy-for-jill-f20/home-1/published Tess Zernzack Hagensieker - https://alaska.digication.com/tess-dance-repertoire-and-performance-copy-for-jill/home-1/published Panika Teeple - https://alaska.digication.com/panika-teeple-copy-for-jill-of-dance-370/home-1/published Lily Myers - https://alaska.digication.com/lily-myers-dance-research-copy-for-jill-f20/home-1/published Blake Blanning - https://alaska.digication.com/blake-blanning-interdisciplinary-dance-studies-copy-for-jill-dance-370-f20/home-1/published

As the Learning Portfolio Program Manager at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois, Brody Tate oversees 55 portfolio programs, comprising roughly 10,000 active users per semester. In this Digication Scholars Conversation, Brody details how he manages this enormous responsibility by working face to face with faculty and department chairs to develop programs that run efficiently and smoothly. Brody prioritizes giving ePortfolio users the know-how, combined with a freedom to create, resulting in a thriving, mutually supportive ePortfolio community. Later, Brody and host, Jeff Yan, discuss emerging trends in how students and graduates are approaching portfolios for career development, and how students can use portfolios to better themselves and improve the world. “I think if we give ourselves the freedom to learn and explore, our world would look a lot different”

As the Learning Portfolio Program Manager at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois, Brody Tate oversees 55 portfolio programs, comprising roughly 10,000 active users per semester. In this Digication Scholars Conversation, Brody details how he manages this enormous responsibility by working face to face with faculty and department chairs to develop programs that run efficiently and smoothly. Brody prioritizes giving ePortfolio users the know-how, combined with a freedom to create, resulting in a thriving, mutually supportive ePortfolio community. Later, Brody and host, Jeff Yan, discuss emerging trends in how students and graduates are approaching portfolios for career development, and how students can use portfolios to better themselves and improve the world. “I think if we give ourselves the freedom to learn and explore, our world would look a lot different”

Episode Notes:Learn more about John Jay Q'Onnections in the Q'Onnections ePortfolio

Episode Notes:Learn more about John Jay Q'Onnections in the Q'Onnections ePortfolio

Episode NotesDuring the conversation with Liz Clark, a book was referenced but at that time the title could not be recalled. The book is Earl Swift's Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island.Additional resources recommended by Liz include:Kale Williams: The Loneliest Polar BearIan Urbina's The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys Across the Last Untamed FrontierJeff Goodell's The Water Will ComeJill Heinerth's, Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver.Paul Nicklen's photography for beautiful, devastating images of how our ocean world is changing.

Episode Notes:During the conversation with Liz Clark, a book was referenced but at that time the title could not be recalled. The book is Earl Swift's Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island.Additional resources recommended by Liz include:Kale Williams: The Loneliest Polar BearIan Urbina's The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys Across the Last Untamed Frontier Jeff Goodell's The Water Will ComeJill Heinerth's, Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver. Paul Nicklen's photography for beautiful, devastating images of how our ocean world is changing.

Carol Bartholomew, the Principal of Polaris K-12, has served as an administrator of the school since 2010 and celebrated her 36th year in education in 2021. In our conversation, Carol explains that she has always taught a little outside of the box, but provided developmentally appropriate practices for the students she taught. She goes on to explain that “Polaris K-12 is an evolving program that creates an environment challenging students, teachers and parents to personal excellence, lifelong learning, and ethical responsibility to self, community, and world.” Hear how Carol and Polaris K-12 have made community connections that create the foundation for students to develop reflective learning skills while creating artifacts that allow students a broader perspective of their growth over time.

Carol Bartholomew, the Principal of Polaris K-12, has served as an administrator of the school since 2010 and celebrated her 36th year in education in 2021. In our conversation, Carol explains that she has always taught a little outside of the box, but provided developmentally appropriate practices for the students she taught. She goes on to explain that “Polaris K-12 is an evolving program that creates an environment challenging students, teachers and parents to personal excellence, lifelong learning, and ethical responsibility to self, community, and world.” Hear how Carol and Polaris K-12 have made community connections that create the foundation for students to develop reflective learning skills while creating artifacts that allow students a broader perspective of their growth over time.

Sally Fortenberry, Associate Professor of Fashion Merchandising and Director of Center for Merchandising Education and Research at Texas Christian University, has a career in academia spanning multiple decades. In our conversation Sally shares how fashion merchandising students use portfolios to show a full range of skills including apparel construction, product development, wholesale buying and consumer behavior. Students use ePortfolios to show not only their creativity, but their analytical skills no matter what industry they go into. Sally says, “all of these different components and aspects of a student bring to light in the about me page because students feel it’s important for someone to know who they are authentically are. It's fascinating to see how they then take all those pieces and how they see their work stuff fitting within the fashion industry. This is the students chance to share where their influence came from - whether it was a relative, a parent, a sibling, or a best friend. Hear how Sally uses reflective learning to prepare her students for the job interviews with ePortfolios.

Sally Fortenberry, Associate Professor of Fashion Merchandising and Director of Center for Merchandising Education and Research at Texas Christian University, has a career in academia spanning multiple decades. In our conversation Sally shares how fashion merchandising students use portfolios to show a full range of skills including apparel construction, product development, wholesale buying and consumer behavior. Students use ePortfolios to show not only their creativity, but their analytical skills no matter what industry they go into. Sally says, “all of these different components and aspects of a student bring to light in the about me page because students feel it’s important for someone to know who they are authentically are. It's fascinating to see how they then take all those pieces and how they see their work stuff fitting within the fashion industry. This is the students chance to share where their influence came from - whether it was a relative, a parent, a sibling, or a best friend. Hear how Sally uses reflective learning to prepare her students for the job interviews with ePortfolios.

Episode Notes:More information about the ATLAS Program can be found here: https://www.mville.edu/programs/atlas...​ Tyler Sinclair's ePortfolio can be found here: https://mville.digication.com/tyler-sinclair-professional-eportfolio/home-1

Episode Notes:More information about the ATLAS Program can be found here: https://www.mville.edu/programs/atlas-program