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.

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• Storyville Coffee Company
• [From the Internet Archive] Bluebottle Coffee’s Instructions for “Inverted” Aeropress Brewing

• Dr. Safary Wa-Mbaleka’s Online Profile
• Dr. Baiyun Chen’s Online Profile
• [Book] The SAGE Handbook of Higher Education Instructional Design
• Previous TOPcast Episodes
  • #150 – “A Global, Holistic, 360 Degree Perspective on Online Higher Education” (with guest Dr. Safary Wa-Mbaleka)
  • #145 – “‘More of the Human Element:’ Dolly, Picard, Ray, Dede, and More”

• Video Version of This Episode!

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.

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Dr. Tanya Joosten

Dr. Patsy Moskal

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• Rishi Tea & Botanicals (Milwaukee, WI)
• “Truffle THiNS Lemon” (from Edward Marc Chocaltier)

• Dr. Tanya Joosten’s Online Profile
• Dr. Patsy Moskal’s Online Profile
• National Research Center for Distance Education and Technological Advancement (“DETA Center”)
• DETA Research Toolkit 2.0 (“DETA Center”)
• Research Study: “Online Learning Readiness” (Joosten & Cusatis)
• Research Study: “A Cross-Institutional Study of Instructional Characteristics and Student Outcomes: Are Quality Indicators of Online Courses Able to Predict Student Success?” (Joosten & Cusatis)
• Historic Impact Evaluation Publications from UCF’s Research Initiative for Teaching Effectiveness (RITE)
• Research Study: “Student Ratings: Skin in the Game and the Three-Body Problem” (co-authored by Dr. Moskal)
• Research Study: “Dancing With a Bear: One University’s Experience With Evaluating Blended Learning” (Moskal)
• [From SUNY Oswego] “Tea for Teaching” Podcast
• [From Oregon State University] “Research in Action” Podcast (2016-2020)
• Past TOPcast Episodes
  • #15 – “It’s More About the Social than the Media” (with guest Dr. Tanya Joosten)
  • #96 – “25 Years of “Conscientious, Methodical Research” (with guest Dr. Patsy Moskal)
  • #103 – “Learning from 2021: Our Listeners Speak” (featuring an appearance by Dr. Patsy Moskal)
  • #130 – “Data, DETA, Design, and More” (with guest Dr. Tanya Joosten)

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.”

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Dr. Cristi Ford

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• Tokyo Kissa from Blue Bottle Coffee

• Dr. Cristi Ford’s Online Profile
• D2L’s Teach & Learn Podcast (co-hosted by Dr. Ford)
• [Research Article] “The wicked problem of AI and assessment” (Corbin, Bearman, Boud, and Dawson, 2025)
• [From PureAI] “Accenture Cuts 11,000 Jobs While Betting Big on AI Skills”
• [Substack Article] “Inverted Bloom’s for the Age of AI” (Kassorla, 2025)
• [Historical Blog] “The Curious Case of the Flipped-Bloom’s Meme” (Collis, Sams, and Wright, 2012)
• TOPcast Episode #92: “Multidimensional, Tremendous Work:” Akilah Institute (with guest Dr. Cristi Ford)

• Video Version of This Episode!

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.

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• “Malabar Hazelnut” from Rosso Caffe
• L’OR Barista System [On Philips Website]

• [LAST CALL] Your Questions/Comments Invited! Provide Input for the Final Episode of TOPcast Now.
• “CHLOE 10 | Meeting the Moment: Navigating Growth, Competition, and AI in Online Higher Education, 2025”
• [From UPCEA] “Benchmarking Online Enterprises:Insights into Structures, Strategies, and Financial Models in Higher Education” (2025)
• [In OnEdTech Newsletter] “Great Expectations, Fragile Foundations” (Dr. Glenda Morgan)
• [From CDLRA] “2025 Pan-Canadian Report on Digital Learning Trends” (Dr. Nicole Johnson)
• [In The Chronicle of Higher Education] “The Colleges That Prospered During the Pandemic” (Phil Hill; contains quote mentioned in the episode)
• Related Past TOPcast Episodes
  • #194: “Becoming Ambassadors of ‘Acceptance’” (with guest Dr. Jennifer Mathes)
  • #193: “Pillar Panel #1: Leadership Vision in Online Ed” (with guests Ray Schroeder and Dr. Melissa Vito)
  • #190: “When Will Online Learning Stop Growing?” (with guest Dr. Glenda Morgan)
  • #180: “Pan-Canadian Digital Learning Report – 2024” (with guest Dr. Nicole Johnson)
  • #173: Campus-Based Student Demand for Online Options (and More!) from CHLOE 9 [plus links to all the other CHLOE-based TOPcast episodes]

• Video Version of This Episode!

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.

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Dr. Jennifer Mathes

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• [From Healthline] “9 Reasons Why Jasmine Tea Is Good for You”

• Dr. Jennifer Mathes’ Online Profile
• [Newsletter] “Digital Learning Leadership: Insights on AI, digital learning, and the future of learning leadership” (Authored by Dr. Mathes)
• [From OLC Website] “Professional Learning: Excellence in Online Professional Development”
• [Newsletter/Podcast] “The Lift: Insights and inspiration for academic innovation, digital learning, and leading” (Authored by Kelvin)
• [On Apple Podcasts] “Online Education Across the Atlantic” Podcast
• Related Past TOPcast Episodes
  • #87: “Repairing Our Reputation Post-COVID”
  • #89: “7 Slogans to Save Online Learning”
  • #98: “I Don’t Ever Want to Do [Online] Again!”
  • 181: “Help in Grasping ‘Good Online Course’”
  • #182: “When is ‘Good Teaching’ Just ‘Good Teaching’?”
  • 192: “Futures Thinking and Digital Higher Ed” (with guest Dr. Bryan Alexander)
  • 193: “Pillar Panel #1: Leadership Vision in Online Ed” (with guests Schroeder & Vito)

• Video Version of This Episode!

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.

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Ray Schroeder

Dr. Melissa Vito

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• Coffees from “8th & Roast Coffee Company” (Nashville, TN)
• Green Mountain Half Caff Coffee Pods

• Ray Schroeder’s Online Profile
• Dr. Melissa Vito’s Online Profile
• Resource Recommendations From Our Guests
  • [Magazine] Quanta (Recommended by Ray Schroeder)
  • [Blog] “Ray’s Daily Update – Curated Reading List” [aka “Online, Continuing & Professional Education Update” from UPCEA] (Recommended by Ray Schroeder)
  • [Column] “Online: Trending Now” from Inside Higher Ed (Recommended by Ray Schroeder)
  • [News Digest] “APLU Morning News Scan Sign-Up” (Recommended by Dr. Melissa Vito)
  • [Book] Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (Recommended by Dr. Melissa Vito)
• Recommendations and Shameless Plugs From The Hosts
  • [Book] The Chief Online Learning Officers’ Guidebook: A Framework for Strategy and Practice in Higher Education (Recommended by Tom)
  • [Newsletter/Podcast] “The Lift: Insights and inspiration for academic innovation, digital learning, and leading” (Recommended by Kelvin)
  • [Web Resources] Books, articles and videos on effective storytelling from “Scientist-Turned-Filmmaker Randy Olson” (Recommended by Kelvin)
  • [TED Talk] “What happens in the brain when we hear stories?” with Dr. Uri Hassan (Recommended by Kelvin)
  • [Website] Research Publications on Storytelling and More from “HassanLab” (Recommended by Kelvin)

• Video Version of This Episode!