New Episodes of D2L's Teach and Learn Podcast
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Upskill and learn from fellow educators and leaders across the world! Every first Thursday of the month, we'll update this thread with the latest episode of D2L's Teach and Learn podcast, hosted by our very own Cristi Ford, Chief Learning Officer and Dr. Emma Zone, Senior Academic Affairs Director.
Each episode features experts from across the K-20 education space as they discuss trending educational topics, share teaching strategies and dive into the challenges facing today's schools and higher education institutions.
Subscribe and follow the Teach and Learn Podcast on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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📌 Bookmark this discussion thread to stay updated—we will be posting all new episodes here!
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January 8 - From Strategy to Action: Building the Role of Chief Online Learning Officers
What does it take to lead online learning in today’s higher education landscape?
In this episode of Teach & Learn, Dr. Cristi Ford sits down with Dr. Thomas B. Cavanagh and Dr. Jocelyn Widmer, editors of the Chief Online Learning Officer’s Guidebook, to explore how digital learning leadership is evolving and why this resource is becoming essential for institutions everywhere. From strategic planning to operational execution, the guidebook offers practical insights for COLOs and anyone shaping online education.
You’ll hear how leadership competencies, entrepreneurial thinking, and future-focused skills like Futures Literacy are redefining what it means to lead in a post-pandemic world.
💬 “The future of online learning leadership will be defined by leaders who are not constrained by the way we’ve always done things.” — Dr. Thomas B. Cavanagh
What Cristi, Thomas and Jocelyn talk about:
☑️ Why the COLO role matters now more than ever
☑️ Strategic and operational frameworks for success
☑️ Lessons from CIO evolution and leadership competencies
☑️ Preparing for the future with Futures Literacy
☑️ Practical advice for new and aspiring COLOs
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
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[Special Episode w/ John Baker] Jan 15 - From AI to Competency-Based Education: Key Forces Shaping Education
🎓 What does the education landscape look like in 2026? From artificial intelligence to competency-based education, the future of learning is being shaped by multiple forces. And institutions need to adapt fast.
In this episode of Teach & Learn, Dr. Cristi Ford sits down with John Baker (CEO, President and Founder of D2L) to explore how AI, immersive learning and skills-focused strategies are transforming education. You’ll hear why non-degree credentials are surging, how AI is reducing course development costs and why human connection still matters in a tech-driven world.
Baker shares practical insights on building flexible learning ecosystems, leveraging AI responsibly and moving beyond outdated standards like SCORM to create engaging, interactive experiences. This conversation is a roadmap for leaders ready to embrace innovation and prepare learners for the future.
💬 “The urgency has never been greater. Institutions need to step up and tackle the big challenges of re-skilling the workforce and preparing students for a new world with AI.” — John Baker
🔍 Cristi and John discuss:
☑️ The biggest forces shaping education in 2026
☑️ How AI is transforming course design and reducing costs
☑️ The rise of competency-based education and non-degree credentials
☑️ Moving beyond SCORM to open, interactive learning standards
☑️ Practical strategies for institutional leaders
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February 5 - Shaping Expertise, Bias and Responsibility in the Age of AI
In this episode of Teach & Learn, host Dr. Cristi Ford is joined by Dr. Ayanna Howard, a leading roboticist, former electrical engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and dean of The Ohio State University College of Engineering, to explore what it means to be human in an AI-driven world. Drawing from her keynote at the D2L Executive Summit and her audiobook Sex, Race, & Robots, Dr. Howard challenges how we define expertise, reframes how we think about bias and offers a hopeful, practical vision for more equitable learning and work.
Rather than positioning AI as a replacement for human expertise, Dr. Ford and Dr. Howard chat about how AI can act as a collaborator, supporting curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving when educators and learners engage with it thoughtfully.
In this episode, Dr. Ford and Dr. Howard discuss:
- Why AI should be approached with intention, not blind adoption
- How expertise is shifting from static knowledge to dynamic, human skills
- Why bias in AI isn’t inherently harmful—and how context matters, including in areas like medicine
- How a lack of diverse voices and lived experiences leads to inequitable outcomes
- Practical actions educators, leaders and technologists can take to shape AI responsibly
As Dr. Howard reminds us, being human in the age of AI means leaning into curiosity and creativity—and taking responsibility for the systems we help create.
