Keystone Concepts in Teaching: A Higher Education Podcast from the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning
Keystone Concepts in Teaching is a higher education podcast from the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning at George Mason University. We focus on impactful teaching strategies that support students and faculty. Join us for conversations with experienced educators across disciplines and instructional modalities who share their actionable, evidence-based tips from the classroom!
Why keystone concepts? These are essential ideas that support effective teaching and learning. Our podcast aims to enhance faculty development by sharing these concepts and inclusive strategies to support faculty of all types and disciplines.
Subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform to get notified about new episodes every 2 weeks during the spring and fall semesters. Listen to our <25-minute episodes while you're on the go to discover small change strategies you might try now!
Hosted by: Rachel Yoho, CDP, PhD
Produced by: Kelly Chandler, MA
Episodes
38 episodes
S4 E37: The Inside Perspective from Graduate Students Who Teach
For the first time, Keystone Concepts in Teaching features a graduate teaching assistant (GTA) and a graduate instructor as guests, offering faculty a candid look into the student-instructor perspective. Host Dr. Rachel Yoho is joined ...
S4 E36: Recognizing the Value of Investing in Teaching
How do we develop, support, and recognize effective teaching across career stages in higher education? In this episode of Keystone Concepts in Teaching, host Dr. Rachel Yoho is joined by Christi Wilcox, Director of the Office of Outrea...
S4 E35: Faculty Mental Health Matters
Faculty mental health is rarely discussed—but deeply connected to teaching, learning, and student success. In this Hear From Your Host episode, guest host and Producer Kelly Chandler turns the microphone toward our host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to exp...
S4 E34: Career Readiness as a Teaching Practice
George Mason’s University Career Services Executive Director, Saskia Campbell, joins host Dr. Rachel Yoho to explain the role her office plays in supporting students at the university and highlight practical ways faculty can partner in preparin...
S4 E33: Faculty Support is Student Support
In this episode of Keystone Concepts in Teaching, host Dr. Rachel Yoho sits down with Dr. Kim Eby, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Development at George Mason University, for a wide‑ranging conversation about faculty recognition, ...
S4 E32: Academic Advisors as Partners in Student Success
What exactly do academic advisors do—and how can faculty benefit from understanding that role more clearly? In this episode, four of George Mason University’s professional academic advisors unpack the realities of advising with our host, Dr. Ra...
S4 E31: Supporting Faculty in Today's Higher Education Landscape
Find out how the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning at George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching Excellence are natural collaborators as we navigate how to support faculty in ...
S4 E30: Everyone Should Learn to Teach
Dive into our discussion with Drs. Stephanie Bluth and Alyssa Bivins from the Graduate Division! The host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, explores how our guests developed their innovative graduate teacher training programs, the importance of strategic unit ...
S4 E29: Sensible Approaches to Teaching in the Age of AI-Generated Everything
In this episode, Dr. Tawnya Azar joins your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to share actionable strategies about how to avoid becoming the “AI Police” and teach students to think critically about how and when to responsibly use AI in college. Additional...
S3 E28: Dynamic Faculty Transforming Education
Drs. Esther Park, Iulia Fratila, Allison Miner, and Yanika Kowitlawakul join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to discuss how they got started as new faculty members, their efforts to transform their teaching and students’ learning, and engagement wi...
S3 E27: Teaching Overlapping, Socially Pressing Issues
Dr. Lynnette Leonard and Dr. Dakota McCarty join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to explore how we approach from different disciplines teaching difficult topics, including those with social contexts and relevance. Resource: Mason...
S3 E26: Writing Across the Curriculum
Drs. Tom Polk and Joan Hwang join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to explore what Writing Across the Curriculum is, how it has developed, and current initiatives and impacts. Resources: Writing Across the Curriculum:
S3 E25: Preparing for and Facilitating Difficult Conversations and Situations in Teaching
In our second Hear From Your Host episode, Dr. Rachel Yoho, the regular host of the podcast, becomes the guest as Producer Kelly Chandler guest hosts to facilitate a conversation on how we prepare for and navigate difficult situations in educat...
S3 E24: All About Grading
Dr. Lisa Gring-Pemble, Dr. Aimee Weinstein, Maoria Kirker, and Doug McKenna join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to discuss alternative grading strategies such as ungrading.Resource: Stearns Center Events Calendar (registrations for M...
S3 E23: Exploring Free Speech and Academic Freedom in Teaching
Zach Greenberg, from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), joins your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, as the first guest from outside of the university to have an exploratory and academic talk about the timely topics of free speech...
S3 E22: The Learning Services Office is Supporting Student Success
Vicki Dominick from Learning Services joins your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to discuss the resources and opportunities available through the efforts of the Learning Services office. Resources: Learning Services at George Mason Un...
S3 E21: Podcasting as a Transformative Communication Strategy
Dr. Leigh McCue, Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Philip Wilkerson, Employer Engagement Consultant, join Dr. Rachel Yoho to discuss how podcasting can be a transformative communication strategy – for your course, research,...
S3 E20: Level Up Your Teaching with Community Engagement and Civic Learning
Kristen Wright and Dr. Shauna Rigaud, of the Office of Community Engagement and Civic Learning at George Mason University, join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to discuss opportunities for community-engaged teaching and civic learning and... maybe ...
S2 E19: Teaching Inspiration from Mason Korea
In this episode, two inspiring Mason Korea faculty members, John David McGrew and Dr. Deborah Kwak, join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to explore key considerations for teaching at an international campus of a US university, as well as what has i...
S2 E18: How We Can Address Some of the “Big Issues” for Faculty Today
Drs. Raven Russell and Laurel Marsh join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to discuss some of the key stressors and big issues for new and “less new” faculty today. We explore strategies to make teaching easier and better for everyone in the sp...
S2 E17: Exploring the Learning Management System (LMS): Canvas
Drs. Breana Bayraktar and Lila Fleming visit us to discuss Canvas, including key ideas, tips, and considerations whether you’re an experienced Canvas user or new to teaching. Resource: Information about the Canvas transition https:/...
S2 E16: How Do We Support Our "Contemporary Students"?
Dr. Joisanne Rodgers and Shyama Kuyver from the Contemporary Student Services office join us to talk about who are our contemporary students and how we can support them in their educational journey. Resources: Contemporary St...
S2 E15: Teaching Strategies Creating Access to STEM Courses
Prof. Kelly Knight and Dr. Christine Rosenfeld chat with us about how we might increase access to courses, even those in STEM like labs and field experiences. Resources: https://phet.color...
S2 E14: What's Happening in the Undergraduate Core Curriculum
Dr. Laura Poms, Director of the Mason Core, joins us again to provide updates on the Mason Core and expand on undergraduate student learning experiences from the Mason Core and beyond. Resources: Mason Core Website:
S2 E13: Strategies for Supporting Military-Affiliated Students
Drs. Glynita Bell and Amy Preston Page visit Keystone Concepts in Teaching to discuss an important part of the university community: military-affiliated learners. We explore strategies that support all students in education, and ...
