Professors Talk Pedagogy

Becca Cassady: Successful Teaching Philosophy Statements

Today, our guest is Dr. Becca Cassady, Graduate Writing Center program director at Baylor University. Dr. Cassady holds a PhD in rhetoric and composition from Baylor, with a dissertation exploring the ways writing consultants draw on prior knowledge when facing unfamiliarity in tutoring sessions. In her research, Dr. Cassady aims to identify ways to help writers and writing consultants approach writing as a subject to be studied and understood. In her current role, she directs a team of graduate writing consultants from across disciplines as they work with students on their writing and publications, offering feedback on writing projects and helping foster effective writing and publication habits. We are delighted to have Dr. Cassady on the show to discuss one growing area of her consultation work with graduate students: crafting teaching philosophy statements.

Mikeal Parsons: Faith Traditions and Teaching

Today, our guest is Dr. Mikeal Parsons, Professor and Macon Chair in Religion at Baylor University. Dr. Parsons is a New Testament Scholar specializing in the Gospels and the book of Acts through the lens of rhetoric and literary criticism. Author or editor of over 30 books, Dr. Parsons has served as co-director of a Wabash grant for graduate student teaching. More recently, Dr. Parsons is a co-Principle Investigator on another Wabash-funded teaching project focusing on Pedagogical Practices and Faith traditions. We are delighted to have Dr. Parsons on the show to discuss graduate student training in teaching, the implications of religious backgrounds for teaching, and much more.

Nicole Kenley: A Different Way to Assess Writing

Today, our guest is Dr. Nicole Kenley, lecturer and director of first-year writing in the English department at Baylor University. Dr. Kenley researches detective fiction, contemporary American fiction, gender studies, and the literature of globalization. Recently awarded a University Teaching Exploration Grant, Dr. Kenley is piloting and researching the effectiveness of portfolio assessment for first-year writing courses. We are delighted to have Dr. Kenley on the show to discuss the pedagogy of writing, training writing instructors, grading and assessment of student writing, and much more.

Mojgan Parizi-Robinson: Learning Assistants in the Classroom

Today our guest is Dr. Mojgan Parizi-Robinson, senior lecturer and director of the Learning Assistants program in Biology at Baylor University. Dr. Parizi-Robinson’s research focuses on intracellular signaling and pathways in wound healing and cancer. In addition to teaching human anatomy lecture and lab courses, she teaches a pedagogy course for biology learning assistants. This year (2022), Dr. Parizin Robinson was the recipient of the Collins Outstanding Professor award. We are delighted to have Dr. Parizi-Robinson on the show to discuss the role of struggle in learning, flipping her course, and teaching undergrads to help other students learn.

Trey Cade: Science as a Mystery Novel

Today our guest is Dr. Trey Cade, Director of the Institute for Air Science at Baylor University. Dr. Cade came to academia after serving in the U.S. Air Force, specializing in weather and space. In 2015, Dr. Cade was selected as Baylor Fellow, a program recognizing gifted teachers and devoted to pedagogical experimentation. We are delighted to have Dr. Cade on the show to discuss teaching complex science to non-science majors, using history to teach science concepts, and more.

Nathan Alleman, Byron Newberry, Sarah Madsen: Faculty Authority

Today we have a special episode featuring a live recording of a recent seminar for excellence in teaching on the campus of Baylor University. The session, titled “Award winning faculty perspectives on teacher authority” was led by Nathan Alleman, associate professor of educational leadership, Byron Newberry, professor of mechanical engineering, and Sarah Madsen, doctoral candidate in educational leadership, all at Baylor University. These presenters shared fascinating original research on the relationships between faculty career stage and perceptions and uses of authority in teaching.

Sarah Mosher: Critical Pedagogy in the Arts

Today our guest is Sarah Mosher, Assistant Professor of costume design and technology in theatre Arts at Baylor University. She has an interest in universal design and design systems. Cultivating design thinking in students, and engaging with questions about design life cycles across disciplines. Recently, Professor Mosher participated in Baylor’s Paulo Freire Centennial, celebrating the founder of critical pedagogy, co-designing the celebration installation in the university library, and serving as a panelist discussing assessment in the fine arts and what she calls the pedagogy of autonomy. We are delighted to welcome Professor Mosher to the show to discuss the slippery work of assessing learning in the arts, Students’ fear and anxiety related to education ,and the journey toward critical pedagogy.

Mark Long: Reflections on a Career

Today our guest is Dr. Mark Long, Director of Middle East Studies and Associate Professor in the Honors College at Baylor University. Dr. Long specializes in contemporary Islamic fundamentalism, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and extremism in America. Before coming to Baylor, Dr. Long served eleven years on active duty as a Middle East analyst and as an instructor at the Air Force Academy where he taught Arabic and English literature. We are delighted to have Dr. Long on the show to discuss teaching in multiple contexts, the good and bad of addressing politics in the classroom, and his reflections at the close of his teaching career.