TOPcast: The Teaching Online Podcast

Recorded in front of a plenary audience at the OLC Accelerate 2025 conference and drawing upon crowdsourced listener input and live audience questions, this is it: the final, regularly-scheduled episode of TOPcast: The Teaching Online Podcast. Please enjoy this cumulative synthesis of insights from the podcast. Good-bye and thanks for joining us for all the coffee and all the conversations! Podcast Recording Download Transcript: PDF #advgb-cols-260f19dd-0372-4749-8785-db4decc91bdb{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-cols-260f19dd-0372-4749-8785-db4decc91bdb{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-cols-260f19dd-0372-4749-8785-db4decc91bdb{}}#advgb-col-2595430c-359b-48b6-8649-1eebb10db441>.advgb-column-inner{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-col-2595430c-359b-48b6-8649-1eebb10db441>.advgb-column-inner{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-col-2595430c-359b-48b6-8649-1eebb10db441>.advgb-column-inner{}}#advgb-col-7eaa5e6d-9bfa-4dce-af01-3d0ca3d482a9>.advgb-column-inner{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-col-7eaa5e6d-9bfa-4dce-af01-3d0ca3d482a9>.advgb-column-inner{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-col-7eaa5e6d-9bfa-4dce-af01-3d0ca3d482a9>.advgb-column-inner{}} Episode 200 Show Notes: <div style="height:10px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-s

Guests Dr. Michelle Pacansky-Brock (“Brocanksy”) and Dr. Alejandra (“Alex”) Pickett unpack decades of experience in conversation with hosts Tom and Kelvin on the topic of scaling high-quality, impactful online design/teaching through preparing and supporting faculty. This episode is the final episode in a mini-series of “pillar panels” offering distilled insights from esteemed community members on key, “structural support” topics essential in the future of strategic online/digital education. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: PDF Dr. Michelle Pacansky-Brock Dr. Alex Pickett

Dr. Safary Wa-Mbaleka and Dr. Baiyun Chen join hosts Tom and Kelvin to discuss the future of the field of higher education instructional design and their comprehensive(!) new book on the subject.  Podcast Recording Download Transcript: PDF Dr. Safary Wa-Mbaleka Dr. Baiyun Chen #advgb-cols-8dec251f-bc9e-4e07-aed1-e4e1a4c47088{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-cols-8dec251f-bc9e-4e07-aed1-e4e1a4c47088

Guests Dr. Tanya Joosten and Dr. Patsy Moskal unpack decades of expertise in conducting research and fostering evidence-based practice in conversation with hosts Tom and Kelvin. This episode is the second in a mini-series of “pillar panels” offering distilled insights from esteemed community members on key, “structural support” topics essential in the future of strategic online/digital education. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: PDF Dr. Tanya Joosten Dr. Patsy Moskal #advgb-cols-5731f973-0c94-4cec-be43-25a4075d6c6e{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-cols-5731f973-0c94-4cec-be43-25a4075d6c6e{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-cols-5731f973-0c94-4cec-be43-25a4075d6c6e{}}#advgb-col-b5dbdb8b-8446-439c-931e-26c0347029e0>.advgb-column-inner{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-col-b5dbdb8b-8446-439c-931e-26c0347029e0>.advgb-column-inner{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-col-b5dbdb8b-8446-439c-931e-26c0347029e0>.advgb-column-inner{}}#advgb-col-0febb23e-f22f-4fba-be08-84767cf277eb>.advgb-column-inner{}@media scre

Guest Dr. Cristi Ford returns to the show to discuss with hosts Kelvin and Tom revolutionary forces, wicked problems, and the importance of seeing the future of digital learning and student success as “co-created.” Podcast Recording Download Transcript: PDF Dr. Cristi Ford #advgb-cols-d86070f1-92a4-48ea-a97c-202cf72525ca{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-cols-d86070f1-92a4-48ea-a97c-202cf72525ca{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-cols-d86070f1-92a4-48ea-a97c-202cf72525ca{}}#advgb-col-0025a647-f505-453a-9959-84642614dd18>.advgb-column-inner{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-col-0025a647-f505-453a-9959-84642614dd18>.advgb-column-inner{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-col-0025a647-f505-453a-9959-84642614dd18>.advgb-column-inner{}}#advgb-col-dfa80eb5-8c70-4c6f-8d5d-23ad381b4589>.advgb-column-inner{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-col-dfa80eb5-8c70-4c6f-8d5d-23ad381b4589>.advgb-column-inner{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-col-dfa80eb5-8c70-4c6f-8d5d-23ad381b4589>.advgb-column-inner{}} <div class="wp-block-advgb-columns advgb-columns-wrapper" id="advgb-cols-10fb0684-b533-

Hosts Kelvin and Tom synthesize themes from three 2025 industry reports and more in this episode to focus on the importance of aligning leadership ambitions of presidents/provosts and quality assurance operations of online education. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: PDF #advgb-cols-0da6e318-a6e7-4ad8-b94f-e70c4db31030{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-cols-0da6e318-a6e7-4ad8-b94f-e70c4db31030{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-cols-0da6e318-a6e7-4ad8-b94f-e70c4db31030{}}#advgb-col-43aef02e-a1d9-4931-b38d-b6747669508e>.advgb-column-inner{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-col-43aef02e-a1d9-4931-b38d-b6747669508e>.advgb-column-inner{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-col-43aef02e-a1d9-4931-b38d-b6747669508e>.advgb-column-inner{}}#advgb-col-b21c3ddd-de7e-4679-8801-2e0dc23971a5>.advgb-column-inner{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-col-b21c3ddd-de7e-4679-8801-2e0dc23971a5>.advgb-column-inner{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-col-b21c3ddd-de7e-4679-8801-2e0dc23971a5>.advgb-column-inner{}} Episode 195 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter <a href="https://twitter.c

OLC’s Dr. Jennifer Mathes joins hosts Tom and Kelvin to discuss the roles we all can play in ensuring that higher ed online learning continues to be effective and strategic in meeting our society’s needs.  Podcast Recording Download Transcript: PDF Dr. Jennifer Mathes #advgb-cols-562fadd7-78d2-4074-a8a6-c1b73d589b5e{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-cols-562fadd7-78d2-4074-a8a6-c1b73d589b5e{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-cols-562fadd7-78d2-4074-a8a6-c1b73d589b5e{}}#advgb-col-8a7e9998-ab74-44b2-b51f-6b193d1bb4f7>.advgb-column-inner{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-col-8a7e9998-ab74-44b2-b51f-6b193d1bb4f7>.advgb-column-inner{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-col-8a7e9998-ab74-44b2-b51f-6b193d1bb4f7>.advgb-column-inner{}}#advgb-col-819f0785-a8fb-40c6-ae24-9c98d1b768bd>.advgb-column-inner{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-col-819f0785-a8fb-40c6-ae24-9c98d1b768bd>.advgb-column-inner{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-col-819f0785-a8fb-40c6-ae24-9c98d1b768bd>.advgb-column-inner{}} <div class="advgb-columns advgb-columns-row advgb-is-mobile columns-valign-full advgb-columns-2 layout-45-15 mbl-layout-

Guests Ray Schroeder and Dr. Melissa Vito unpack decades of practical wisdom on leadership vision in conversation with hosts Tom and Kelvin. This episode is the first in a mini-series of “pillar panels” offering distilled insights from esteemed community members on key, “structural support” topics essential in the future of strategic online/digital education. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: PDF Ray Schroeder Dr. Melissa Vito #advgb-cols-e63790df-a0d4-4509-8a1d-b18b193a1525{}@

Higher ed futurist Dr. Bryan Alexander guests alongside hosts Kelvin and Tom to reflect on the recent past and near-term possible futures of digital higher education. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: PDF Dr. Bryan Alexander #advgb-cols-bb9c7f87-701a-4bef-b162-a9147ffa96f2{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-cols-bb9c7f87-701a-4bef-b162-a9147ffa96f2{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-cols-bb9c7f87-701a-4bef-b162-a9147ffa96f2{}}#advgb-col-f8779087-77f8-4ebb-8904-ec8479891a57>.advgb-column-inner{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-col-f8779087-77f8-4ebb-8904-ec8479891a57>.advgb-column-inner{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-col-f8779087-77f8-4ebb-8904-ec8479891a57>.advgb-column-inner{}}#advgb-col-800dfb7e-87fb-47a8-8987-685b3cc368be>.advgb-column-inner{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-col-800dfb7e-87fb-47a8-8987-685b3cc368be>.advgb-column-inner{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-col-800dfb7e-87fb-47a8-8987-685b3cc368be>.advgb-column-inner{}} <d

Hosts Tom and Kelvin consider the role well-designed online learning can play in institutional efforts to increase student retention.  Podcast Recording Download Transcript: PDF #advgb-cols-7cdf1832-3f64-467c-ac01-4ee989b10b41{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-cols-7cdf1832-3f64-467c-ac01-4ee989b10b41{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-cols-7cdf1832-3f64-467c-ac01-4ee989b10b41{}}#advgb-col-fcfc2f5d-558f-412c-a27b-78765a240f46>.advgb-column-inner{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-col-fcfc2f5d-558f-412c-a27b-78765a240f46>.advgb-column-inner{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-col-fcfc2f5d-558f-412c-a27b-78765a240f46>.advgb-column-inner{}}#advgb-col-3644f792-6aed-4a94-9682-ed2d82b70911>.advgb-column-inner{}@media screen and (max-width: 1023px) {#advgb-col-3644f792-6aed-4a94-9682-ed2d82b70911>.advgb-column-inner{}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {#advgb-col-3644f792-6aed-4a94-9682-ed2d82b70911>.advgb-column-inner{}} Episode 191 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of ep

Guest market analyst Dr. Glenda Morgan joins hosts Kelvin and Tom to share a concentrated distillation of wise insights on online enrollment growth, student success online, and much more.

Hosts Kelvin and Tom examine recent trend data on the academic readiness and unique challenges of current K12 students who will be college students soon. Digital learning professionals can bring our strengths to the table to partner with other colleagues in better supporting these learners.

Return guest Dr. Jocelyn Widmer joins hosts Kelvin and Tom to discuss a brand new book focused on leading the strategy and practice of online higher education and clarifying the role of the Chief Online Learning Officer (COLO).

Hosts Kelvin and Tom speak about (and to) the “core audience” of online faculty, instructional designers, and administrative leaders, alongside many other roles, to unpack the podcast’s conceptualization of online education as centered on optimizing course design and teaching.

Return guest Dr. Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich joins hosts Kelvin and Tom to share hard won expert tips on improving online program marketing and enrollment.

With ten years in the rear view mirror, hosts Tom and Kelvin talk through insights gained about the field of online education and the podcast itself after they reviewed the “Top10” episodes of TOPcast. [Spoiler: Tune in for a big announcement!]

1EdTech Consortium CEO Curtiss Barnes guests on the show alongside hosts Kelvin and Tom to “decomplexify” the value 1EdTech brings to the digital learning community through open standards and more.

Hosts Tom and Kelvin discuss how institutions can avoid the enrollment cliff by embracing a values-driven strategy in online higher education. Learn key insights to navigate demographic shifts, economic pressures, and the evolving digital learning landscape.

Guest Dr. Thomas J. (Tom) Tobin joins hosts Tom and Kelvin for a slightly spicy conversation about the extent to which general teaching behaviors can be meaningfully separated from other factors such as course modality, student characteristics, institutional resources, and more.

Hosts Kelvin and Tom discuss the challenge, still present after 30 years, of helping others (e.g., policymakers, potential students, etc.)  understand what a  “good online course” is without experiencing one themselves. They discuss why this still matters and what approaches might help.

Returning guest Dr. Nicole Johnson joins hosts Tom and Kelvin to discuss findings from the seventh annual report of the state of digital learning in Canada produced by the Canadian Digital Learning Research Association (CDLRA). Similarities with global themes and distinctives unique to the Canadian context are discussed.

As US higher ed institutions experienced shifts to remote work and instruction in early 2025, it's an ideal time for us as digital learning professionals to reflect on key lessons learned in ensuring continuity of operations as we seek to support successful future transitions.

Guest Dr. Vickie Cook joins hosts Kelvin and Tom to discuss unexpected career trajectories for digital learning professionals, especially COLOs, related to sought-after, transferable skill sets.

In celebration of 30 years of OLC conferences and with input and reactions from our community of online/digital learning professionals, including a live audience(!), hosts Tom and Kelvin discuss the issues inherent in predicting and shaping a desirable future for online/digital education over the next 30 years.

Guest Dr. Matt Bergman joins Tom and Kelvin to discuss the current role credit for prior learning plays in American higher education and how we can all do a bit more to use this approach effectively in our digital learning work.

In this “call-in show” episode, hosts Tom and Kelvin are joined by some of the past year’s guests in sharing observations about 2024 as it ends and predictions and hopes about 2025 as it begins. Some of the themes emerging include balancing humanness and technology-assistance and staying focused on the aspirational goals of our collective work.

Guest Phil Hill joins hosts Kelvin and Tom to discuss substantive insights on the role of the LMS and trends in online higher ed enrollments. (Must see TV. Even if it is a podcast.)

Hosts Tom and Kelvin talk through themes from the CHLOE 9 report that stand out as broadly applicable to all online education professionals while we all seek to anticipate or shape the future.

Guest and former Hubert Humphrey Fellow Angelica Gabriela Rocha Guevara joins hosts Tom and Kelvin from Guatemala to discuss the similarities and differences of her country’s pursuit of online education compared to that of other countries around the globe.

Hosts Kelvin and Tom consider the centrality that online learners’ needs must have in shaping the work of online higher education. Particular attention is given to how responsibility for this common goal must be shared between individual faculty and institutional processes to assure quality at scale.

Return guest Nicolaas Matthijs joins hosts Tom and Kelvin to discuss some of the trends he’s seeing in the rapidly changing AI-assisted technology space with an eye toward how digital learning professionals can make wise use of the tools in our work.

Hosts Tom and Kelvin discuss the relationship between the strategic value institutions find in online education and institutions establishing senior roles of responsibility for online and digital learning. Implications for a variety of institutional roles are considered. Podcast Recording Download Transcript: PDF Episode 169 Show Notes: Episode Synopsis via Twitter View complete list of episode highlights via Twitter Coffee Links  Mysterious Clues on “Ruthie’s Blend” from Stomping Grounds Coffee Co., Louisville, KY Content Links  [Research study] “A National Study of Online Learning Leaders in US Higher Education” (Fredericksen, 2017) [Research study] “A National Study of Online Learning Leaders in US Community Colleges” (Fredericksen, 2018) UPCEA Hallmarks of Excellence in Online Leadership [UPCEA article] “The Chief Online Learning Officer: Competencies, Roles, and Trajectories” (Herron, Lashley, Salley, and Shaw, 2016) [From UPCEA, 2023] “Definition Update: Chief Online Learning Officer (COLO)” [Edited book] From Grassroots to the Highly Orchestrated: Online Leaders Share Their Stories of the Evolving Online Organizational Landscape in Higher Education (Bouchey, Graz, Kurland, 2023) TOPcast Episodes #36: “Finding Online Learning Leaders: ‘Fredericksen’s List’” #126: “COLOs, Context, and Community” #136: “Online Higher Ed: Finding Ourselves in Other People’s Stories” Just for Fun Pop Culture Links Hidden Brain podcast Extra Special Feature Video Version of This Episode!

Guest Melissa Loble joins hosts Kelvin and Tom to share an optimistic vision for the future of technology-enabled higher education. Amidst heightened automation and AI assistance, the uniquely human affordances of relationships are all the more crucial in solving our challenges.

Hosts Kelvin and Tom explore the catalyzing personal and organizational value of individuals cultivating a “startup mindset,” regardless of personal role, in the work of digital higher education.

Guest Dr. Justin Shaffer joins hosts Tom and Kelvin to discuss the role high structure course design can play in making online STEM courses more effective… and fun!

In this episode, hosts Tom and Kelvin explore the rationale underlying continued institutional efforts to prepare faculty for online course design and teaching. Hint: It’s about students.

Dr. Jenny Sumner joins hosts Kelvin and Tom to discuss the growing role “coaching” plays, especially online, in centering students and their success within our higher ed work.

In this episode, hosts Tom and Kelvin invite “fun with syllabi” by exploring the multiple roles played by the syllabus in online courses and encouraging adjustments to make syllabi more meaningful and inviting for students.

In this time-sensitive episode (listen now!), return guests Russ Poulin and Cheryl Dowd explain how proposed actions by the US Department of Education (US ED) may negatively impact many online learners and US higher education institutions.

In this Season 10 kick-off episode, hosts Kelvin Thompson and Thomas Cavanagh revisit a “time capsule” of past predictions and pivot toward the various flavors of “possible futures” available now in online education.

Guest Dr. Jean Mandernach joins hosts Tom and Kelvin to discuss how faculty and instructional designers can design more meaningful and engaging learning assignments for students, online or anywhere.

Hosts Kelvin and Tom talk through the importance of consulting trusted sources of data and information as the basis for sound decision making in online education, no matter what role one holds.

Guest Nicolaas Matthijs joins hosts Tom and Kelvin to discuss the emergence of AI-assistance built into educational technology platforms and how this is a departure from past phases of artificial intelligence implementation.

In this episode, hosts Tom and Kelvin summarize the current issues surrounding proposed changes to “inclusive access programs” for digital instructional materials and how this affects the affordability work of digital education professionals.

Guest Dr. Carmin Chan joins hosts Tom and Kelvin to consider how we might reframe the typical institutional data that might not present clearly the needs and progress of post-traditional learners served by online education.

In this episode, spring-boarding from one of the chapters in the new SAGE Handbook of Online Higher Education, hosts Kelvin and Tom advocate for high-quality online discussions and reflect upon research-based practices that lead to well-designed and successful discussion experiences.

Guest Dr. Anna Porcaro joins hosts Tom and Kelvin to share insights on how higher education institutions can be more effective in meeting workforce needs through digital alternative educational programs.

As a follow-up to the pre-2024 call-in show, hosts Tom and Kelvin talk through the need to re-examine, challenge, and change existing institutional structures as we seek to serve learners better - both existing students and a wider variety of potential new students.

Guest Patti O’Sullivan joins hosts Kelvin and Tom to discuss the significance of advance planning for academic continuity and the role that digital teaching and learning can play. Important all the time - not just for global pandemics.

In this “call-in show” episode, hosts Kelvin and Tom are joined by multiple voices from the online education community to help us all make sense of 2023’s disruptions and make the most of 2024’s opportunities in our collective work. Themes include meeting the needs of diverse potential students and incorporating continually-evolving AI resources in this work.