In this episode, host Kelsey Peterson sits down with Dr. Ying Iverson, Chief Academic Officer at Westcliff University, to explore how higher education is evolving for today’s global, digital-first learners. Dr. Iverson shares what she’s seeing across Westcliff’s worldwide student population from rising expectations for flexibility and mobile learning to the growing influence of AI on study habits, assessment, and faculty roles.

The conversation digs into why power skills like communication, critical thinking, and collaboration matter more than ever and how universities can embed them authentically into online and hybrid environments. Dr. Iverson also unpacks how stackable credentials, transfer-friendly pathways, and microlearning can support working adults while still preserving the deep value of a degree.

Whether you're rethinking curriculum design, exploring AI’s impact on learning, or imagining a more student-centered future, this episode offers a grounded, forward-looking view of what higher ed can become.

Key Moments

01:17 What today’s digital learners expect flexibility, accessibility, and bite-sized content

03:54 AI as a “jetpack” and a crutch helping students use it ethically and effectively

09:57 How AI is used for research, reading expansion, and formative assessment

11:20 How faculty roles are shifting from “knowledge keepers” to facilitators and co-creators

19:13 Building critical thinking through multi-AI analysis assignments

20:50 Communication, group work, and collaboration in digital learning environments

24:11 The core competencies remain the same even as context changes

24:57 Stackable credentials, transfer credit, and meeting adult learners where they are

28:20 Rethinking pathways: designing flexible, modular systems for real student needs

32:28 Recognizing experience, validating prior learning, and building student-centered systems

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you care about the future of higher education especially for working adults and global learners this conversation offers a refreshing and practical perspective. Dr. Iverson explains how universities can embrace AI without losing academic integrity, how power skills can be woven into digital programs, and why flexibility and transfer pathways matter more than ever. You’ll walk away with clear, actionable ideas for building programs that are both innovative and deeply human-centered.

Connect with Dr. Ying Iverson

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ying-iverson-ph-d-66bb742b
Website: https://www.westcliff.edu/about-westcliff/leadership/ying-iverson-ph-d/

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Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/
Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/

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In today’s episode of signals podcast, host Kelsey Peterson sits down with Richard McDorman, Chief Academic Officer at Language On Schools, to dig into the intersection of language learning, technology, and regulation in U.S. education.

They discussed how Language On Schools uses technology across their ten campuses to support students from their first contact all the way through graduation, and how tech has transformed everything from placement testing to classroom instruction. But it’s not just about the tools, Richard McDorman explains why, for students on visas, live, in-person learning isn’t just preferred, but required by U.S. immigration law.

Together, they explore why group dynamics and social interaction are so fundamental to language acquisition, and look ahead to the role AI and digital innovation might play, without shying away from the real regulatory and cultural challenges along the way. Plus, Richard McDorman shares his perspective as a certified translator on how machine translation is reshaping motivation and opportunity for language learners worldwide.

Whether you’re a language educator, a tech enthusiast, or just fascinated by the future of learning, this episode is packed with insights on what it really takes to master a new language in our digital age.

Key Moments

05:13 Student Assessment & Proficiency Measures

09:08 Student Visa Rules Limit Online Learning

11:01 Student Visa Rules for Online Learning

14:53 Language Learning: In-Person vs. AI

17:57 "AI Won't Replace Language Classrooms"

22:07 "AI Enables Remote Language Learning"

27:29 "AI Mimicking Human Interaction"

28:45 "AI Mimics Human Interaction"

32:23 "AI Transforming Education Potential"

37:56 Language Learning: Motivation and Technology

40:33 "Adapting Appalachian English Dialect"

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

If you’re thinking about the future of language learning, international education, or the role of AI in real classrooms, this episode gives you the clarity you’ve been missing. A rare, candid look at how technology actually shows up across the student journey, from recruitment to assessment to daily instruction, and why legal and regulatory forces matter just as much as innovation. Clear, grounded explanations of what can go online, what never should, and why socially mediated learning is still the heart of language acquisition. And a forward-looking but realistic take on AI: when it genuinely expands access, when it can’t replicate human interaction, and what the next decades of immersive tech might make possible.

Connect with Richard McDorman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardmcdorman
Company Website: https://languageonschools.com/
Richard’s Website: https://richardmcdorman.org/

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Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/

Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/

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In this episode, host Kelsey Peterson sits down with Bethany Becknell, Director of Online Learning and Student Success at Oklahoma Christian University, to explore what it really looks like to move from K12 teaching into leading online programs in higher education. Bethany shares her journey from 9th-10th grade English teacher to doctoral student to online learning leader and how being an adult learner herself fundamentally shaped the way she now designs for working adults.

From unpacking the core differences between teaching adolescents and adults, to rethinking what actually works in an online course. Bethany reflects on structure, flexibility, and the power of lived experience in adult learning. She also gets candid about AI: her concerns, her excitement, and the very real ethical questions she’s asking as both an educator and a parent.

Bethany walks through how her team moved from a restrictive “no AI” stance to a cautious, permissive policy that treats AI as a learning partner rather than a shortcut. She shares practical examples, including using generative AI to simulate high-stakes parent-teacher conferences and to give future educators safe spaces to practice, reflect, and build confidence before they’re in the room with real families.

Key Moments

00:03 From High School English to Online Higher Ed

03:16 Kids vs. Adults: How Learning Really Differs

07:23 Why Copy-Paste Lectures Fail Online

11:18 Flipped Learning & On-the-Job Application

17:48 When Your Teen Uses AI for Homework

21:25 Shifting from “No AI” to Cautious Use

28:54 Practicing Parent–Teacher Conferences with AI

31:53 Will AI Be Everywhere in 5 Years?

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

If you’re working at the intersection of online learning, adult education, and AI, this conversation gives you both language and tactics for what comes next. A grounded, honest look at the emotional side of adult learners (“Am I smart enough?”) and how course design can either amplify or reduce that anxiety.Concrete examples of transforming “lecture-heavy” courses into interactive, feedback-rich experiences that better fit online formats.A nuanced take on generative AI that neither panics nor hand-waves: specific misuses to watch for, and assignments that intentionally leverage AI for practice and reflection.

Connect with Bethany Becknell
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-becknell-93698320a
Website:https://www.oc.edu/

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Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/

Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/

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In this episode, host Kelsey Peterson talks with Dr. Scott Robinson, Director of Digital Learning and Design at Portland State University, about the seismic shift from professors as content gatekeepers to instructors as facilitators of learning, and why this change boosts student motivation, relevance, and outcomes. With questions also from Dr. Mallory Dwinal Palisch, the conversation explores open education, agency, and the future of stackable credentials.

Scott traces the arc from the lecture-and-regurgitation model to today’s participatory approaches where students help create knowledge. He explains how open educational resources (OER) do more than save money. They enable authentic, lasting student contributions that live beyond “disposable” assignments. The discussion also unpacks PSU’s distinctive approach to access and flexibility: no separate “online college,” just one institution where students mix modalities term by term to fit real lives and real goals.

Key Moments

03:53 "Collaborative Education Increases Student Agency"

06:46 Eliminate Online vs In-Person Divide

11:02 "Empowering Learning Through Open Pedagogy"

15:47 Shifting Perspectives in Education

19:08 Evolving Learning Methods

23:10 "Rethinking Education Models"

25:39 Improving Access to Education

29:54 Flexible Course Options for Students

31:14 "PDX OAI Resource Hub"

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you’re building programs for today’s learners with real constraints, this episode offers a practical blueprint: prioritize agency, leverage OER to make learning participatory, design assessments that persist, and stop centering modality with center meaningful engagement. You’ll also hear how PSU operationalizes flexibility without spinning up a separate online enterprise, creating pathways that meet students where they are.

Connect with Dr. Scott Robinson
Website: https://www.pdx.edu/

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Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/

Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/

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In this episode, host Kelsey Peterson sits down with Joseph Gargaro, Director of Learning Design at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, to unpack what it really takes to keep courses current, human, and effective in a post-COVID, AI-accelerated world. Joseph shares how shifting student expectations from pure flexibility to authentic connection is reshaping course design, faculty workflows, and program strategy.

From simple-but-powerful practices like scheduled 1:1 time and group video discussion boards to a pragmatic “seven-minute cadence” for live sessions, Joseph explains how his team blends synchronous touchpoints with asynchronous freedom. He also digs into adjunct engagement, continuous course refreshes, and the realistic role of AI as a “writer-in-the-loop” for cleaner prompts and clearer learning experiences.

Joseph is candid about experiments that didn’t land (e.g., generic open office hours) and those that did (structured calendar blocks, fluid content updates, and purposeful project-based learning). He also weighs the value of micro-credentials, the importance of virtue-anchored general education, and why his top advice for future learning designers is to teach first, then translate that craft online.

Key Moments

05:22 Rethinking Surveys for Honest Feedback

06:46 Innovative Teaching for Students

11:04 Effective Teaching: Keep Students Engaged

15:09 Adapting Education for Modern Needs

19:18 Future of Writing Assistance Tools

21:09 "Balancing AI and Human Teaching"

23:39 "Micro-Credentials: Worth the Cost?"

29:37 "Teaching Before Designing Courses"

30:46 Teaching & Learning Excellence Center

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

If you’re navigating the tension between learner connection and flexibility, this conversation gives you concrete moves to try next week: calendar-based 1:1s, group video discussions, a crisp seven-minute live-session rhythm, and a smart way to use AI without losing the human voice. You’ll hear how to keep asynchronous courses fresh with living resources, motivate adjuncts to iterate, and build project-based artifacts that actually signal readiness to employers, while grounding programs in values that cultivate well-rounded graduates.

Connect with Joseph Gargaro
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-gargaro-106788176/
Website: https://www.smumn.edu/

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Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/

Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/

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In this episode, host Kelsey Peterson sits down with Dr. Nic Bongers, Director of Instructional Design at Oakland University in Metro Detroit, to talk about the changing landscape of online learning. Nic shares his unique perspective as a graphic designer turned instructional designer, revealing how his experiences both as an online student and instructor have shaped his approach to course development. They dig into the major challenge facing higher education right now: the push to meet upcoming ADA Title 2 digital accessibility regulations.

With a small team and thousands of faculty to support, Nic explains the creative strategies Oakland University is using to help everyone get their courses up to standard and why accessibility isn’t just about compliance, but better learning for everyone. They also discuss the early days of online education, practical tips for making digital content more accessible, and Nic’s candid thoughts on the evolving role of AI in the classroom.

Key Moments

06:10 Digital Accessibility Challenges Explained

07:44 "Streamlined Online Course Fixes"

10:13 "Accessibility Lessons from the Past"

16:28 Teaching Styles: Online vs. In-Person

17:26 Collaborative Teaching Builds Student Engagement

23:20 AI and Virtual Hunting Exploration

27:33 AI-Powered Learning Tools in Moodle

29:06 Interactive Learning Tools Empower Education

32:35 "AI: From Doubts to Curiosity"

36:03 Facial Recognition Contact Display

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

Nic Bongers shares an honest, behind-the-scenes perspective on leading accessibility initiatives at Oakland University as the 2026 ADA digital compliance deadline approaches. His stories about “teaching faculty to fish” and balancing creativity with compliance make complex topics surprisingly engaging. He also explores how AI and immersive technologies can elevate course design, while offering practical strategies for keeping learning human-centered and personal. Whether you’re an educator, technologist, or lifelong learner, this episode delivers inspiration and actionable insight into the future of accessible, meaningful online education.

Connect with Nic Bongers
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicbongers
Website: https://www.oakland.edu/

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Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/

Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/

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In this episode, host Kelsey Peterson is joined by Dr. Peter Folliard, Dean of the School of Music and Vice President for Innovation at Augustana University. Together, they explore how a lifelong musician and conductor became one of higher education’s most forward-thinking AI innovators bridging creativity, leadership, and technology in surprising ways.

From conducting at the White House with the U.S. Air Force Band to leading Augustana’s AI Task Force, Dr. Folliard shares his journey of discovering how the arts and artificial intelligence can amplify human potential. He discusses how his team built a university-wide AI strategy, launched the AI at AU initiative, and introduced “Welcome to the Future,” a first-year seminar where every student learns to use AI responsibly to write, build, and create at an accelerated level.

Dr. Folliard also dives into how AI is reshaping music education, expanding access and creativity for students and educators alike from custom GPTs and on-prem language models to generative music tools like Suno AI. He reflects on what it means to prepare students not for our past, but for their future, emphasizing flexibility, entrepreneurship, and the power of lifelong learning.

Whether you’re an educator, creative professional, or simply curious about how human artistry and artificial intelligence can coexist, this episode offers a fascinating look at how innovation and imagination are transforming higher education.

Key Moments

05:10 Building Augustana’s AI Task Force

07:29 Creating a Campus AI Glossary and Policy

09:52 Teaching “Welcome to the Future”

11:31 Empowering Students through Responsible AI Use

14:03 Launching an On-Prem LLM with NVIDIA

16:01 Partnering with Google for an AI Summit

17:30 The Role of AI in Music Creation

21:34 Accessibility and Digital Music Sharing

24:02 Redesigning Music Curriculum for 2025

25:28 Teaching Flexibility and the Gig Mindset

28:11 The New Skill: Learning How to Learn

Why You’ll Love This Episode:
If you’re passionate about the intersection of creativity, technology, and education, you’ll love this conversation with Dr. Peter Folliard. As both a conductor and innovator, he shares how Augustana University is preparing students to thrive in an AI-driven world—without losing the human heart of learning. From teaching freshmen to harness AI for writing and research to using generative tools that democratize music creation, Dr. Folliard shows what it means to lead with imagination, courage, and curiosity.

Connect with Dr. Peter Folliard
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-j-folliard
Website: https://www.augie.edu/

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Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/

Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/

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In this episode, host Kelsey Peterson is joined by Ann-Michelle Levangie, Director of Instructional Design at Stukent. Together, they explore Stukent’s Simternships—fully simulated, virtual internships that give students hands-on career experience in a digital environment. Ann-Michelle shares how immersive, work-integrated learning bridges the gap between classroom theory and real-world practice, helping students build confidence and career readiness in a low-stakes setting.

They also discuss Stukent’s E3 Learning Experience framework (Engage, Enrich, Encode), strategies for integrating experiential learning into higher education, and how AI is enhancing feedback, personalization, and design efficiency. From expanding access to strengthening workforce readiness, this episode highlights how instructional design and technology are transforming education.

Key Moments

00:00 What are Simternships and why they matter

02:40 Inside the immersive experience—emails, chats, and feedback

04:01 The E3 framework: Engage → Enrich → Encode

06:58 Convincing traditional institutions to adopt experiential learning

10:39 Measuring learning outcomes and post-graduation impact

12:34 How AI is shaping feedback, scalability, and design

16:48 Preparing students for ethical and effective AI use

20:23 Expanding access and workforce readiness through virtual internships

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you care about making higher education more career-connected, this conversation offers a clear path forward. Ann-Michelle shares how Stukent’s Simternships help students build technical and core skills that translate directly to the workplace—while empowering faculty with scalable, curriculum-aligned experiential learning.

Connect with Ann-Michelle Levangie
Website: https://www.stukent.com/
E3 Learning Experience White Paper: available at stukent.com (search “E3LX”)

Follow Us On
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/
Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/

Enjoyed this episode?
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