CETL: The Podcast
The CETL Podcast brings together the University of Northern Iowa community to explore pedagogical practices that directly impact student learning and success. Through candid conversations on topics such as digital accessibility, information literacy, student engagement, AI literacy, and teaching strategies, the podcast examines how educators can create learning environments that serve all students. All these conversations are grounded in research, practical wisdom, and a commitment to human connection in the classroom.
Season 1
- Episode 5: Human Presence in an Automated World
What gets lost when we automate? Dr. Kevin Mason, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Northern Iowa, uses an unexpected analogy: you can get an efficient cheeseburger at McDonald's, or a better one from someone who cares about the human presence in the process. Applied to education, this raises questions about what automation gains in efficiency versus what it sacrifices in human connection and judgment.
In this episode of the CETL Podcast, the conversation traces this tension back through industrial history while keeping the focus practical. For faculty considering AI integration, Dr. Mason offers a framework: identify where human presence matters most in your teaching and protect it.
- Episode 4: Student Voice Matters: Participation, Engagement, and Civic Skills
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Allison Rank, who joined the University of Northern Iowa in July 2025 and has already made an enormous impact on campus. Dr. Rank brings together a deep understanding of classroom practice, community engagement, and scholarly research on teaching and civic learning.
In this episode, we explore student participation in the college classroom, not just as an instructional strategy but as a foundation for building participatory cultures and democratic skills. Dr. Rank shares insights on how fostering student engagement in our disciplines creates civic learning opportunities that extend far beyond traditional political content.
Whether you're looking for practical strategies to increase student participation or are interested in the broader connections between pedagogy and civic engagement, this conversation offers research-informed perspectives on creating inclusive, participatory learning environments.
- Episode 3: Beyond the AI Hype - What Students Really Think vs. What They Actually Do
In this episode, Wilson Rojas speaks with Deb Young and Rachel Morgan, faculty members at the University of Northern Iowa, about their research on students' use of AI in first-year writing classes.
The conversation explores the implications of their research, the importance of clear communication about AI policies across disciplines, and strategies for helping students build confidence as writers rather than relying solely on AI tools. Deb and Rachel share their insights about why faculty should actively teach about AI, set transparent boundaries, and consider the ethical dimensions of AI use in higher education.
- Episode 2: Why Information Literacy Matters More Than Ever
In this episode of the CETL Podcast, host Jonathan Chenoweth sits down with Angie Cox, Associate Professor at UNI’s Rod Library and liaison librarian for several Health Sciences departments, to explore the evolving role of information literacy in higher education.
The conversation highlights the collaborative role of liaison librarians, who move beyond one-time classroom visits to become long-term partners in the design of courses and assignments. Angie reflects on how the rapid rise of AI literacy is reshaping classroom dynamics, introducing new complexities around privacy, access, ethics, and instructional time. She also discusses the librarian’s role as both a resource and a teaching partner, helping faculty refine assignments, guide students, and navigate a shifting information landscape with confidence and care.
- Episode 1: Creating an Accessible Future
In the first episode of this season of the CETL Podcast, Jonathan Chenoweth hosts a panel discussion on how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations influence digital accessibility in higher education, particularly at the University of Northern Iowa.
Leah Gutknecht, Magdalena Galloway, and Dr. Amy Nielsen offer unique perspectives from the legal, instructional, and administrative sides of the university, highlighting the importance of digital accessibility not just as a mandate but as an opportunity to serve all students at UNI.
