Join in for an interactive, “recorded live” episode of TOPcast: The Teaching Online Podcast, a podcast for leaders in online/blended learning. Stimulate your thinking. Grow your network.
Over the past three years, OLC has promoted TOPcast: The Teaching Online Podcast co-hosted by Tom Cavanagh and Kelvin Thompson from UCF’s Center for Distributed Learning. This monthly 30-minute podcast for online learning leaders emulates a collegial conversation on relevant issues over a shared cup of coffee. During this session, OLC’s Chief Knowledge Management Officer, Devon Cancilla, and the TOPcast hosts will provide a brief review of milestones from the evolution of higher ed podcasting, OLC Podcasts, and TOPcast prior to presenting a “recorded live” episode of TOPcast based upon crowd-sourced topics suggested by leaders in our online education professional community. (To suggest a topic NOW for this session, please visit: http://bit.ly/vote_TOPcastLive2018.) Following the recording, in a Q&A session participants will have the opportunity to dialogue with the TOPcast hosts and OLC Chief Knowledge Management Officer about the needs of current and aspiring online learning leaders and the place of resources such as TOPcast in meeting those needs. Following established TOPcast practice, freshly brewed gourmet coffee selected especially for the session will be distributed to participants in tasting cups until the coffee runs out!
Consistent with OLC’s goals for the Accelerate conference of “driving quality online learning, advancing best practice guidance and accelerating innovation” and the focus of the Leadership and Institutional Strategies track on “strategies and leadership approaches,” the intent of this conference session is to add value to those seeking to lead in online education so that each of us as leaders can be more effective in our own institutional context. This session will provide an opportunity for current leaders to dialogue on high-level issues and an on-ramp for professional development growth for those seeking to “lead from where they are.” Participants will be encouraged to exchange contact information to expand their personal network.
TOPcast is currently enjoyed by an increasing number (700+) of regular listeners and many more colleagues who listen occasionally. The target audience of TOPcast is those who seek to lead online education from their vantage points as administrators, instructional designers, and online faculty. TOPcast episodes are available on the OLC website (http://bit.ly/topcast_olc) or via all of the mainstream podcast outlets (e.g., Apple Podcasts). The OLC website links to resources and interaction opportunities associated with each episode. A previous TOPcast Live! session was part of the 2015 OLC International Conference and resulted in a popular TOPcast episode along with bonus content archived at https://cdl.ucf.edu/topcast-s01e07.
Outcomes
Participants in this session will:
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Consider pressing leadership issues in online education
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Dialogue with participants and presenters about the needs of leaders in our field
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Connect with other online learning leader colleagues for follow-up
SESSION OUTLINE
I. Context for TOPcast (10-15 minutes)
A. OLC Podcasts & TOPcast
B. Milestones since 2015 (higher ed podcasting, OLC Podcasts, and TOPcast)
C. How does TOPcast work?
D. How will our “recorded live” session work today?
II. Live Recording of TOPcast on Crowdsourced Topic (20 minutes)
III. Q&A with OLC and UCF Presenters (10-15 minutes)
A. Pair-and-share question formation
B. Whole group dialogue
C. Wrap-up/Exchange contact info