The Signals

AI, Power Skills, and the New Digital Learner: Rethinking Higher Ed with Westcliff University

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ying-iverson-ph-d-66bb742b]Website: https://www.westcliff.edu/about-westcliff/leadership/ying-iverson-ph-d/ [https://www.westcliff.edu/about-westcliff/leadership/ying-iverson-ph-d/] Follow Us On Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/]Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/]Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/ [https://www.kyronlearning.com/] Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Signals Podcast and leave us a review! Share this episode with education leaders, innovators, and anyone passionate about experiential learning and workforce readiness.

The Future of Language Instruction: Classroom, Online, or Hybrid?

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardmcdorman] Company Website: https://languageonschools.com/ [https://languageonschools.com/] Richard’s Website: https://richardmcdorman.org/ [https://richardmcdorman.org/]  Follow Us On Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/]  Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/]  Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/ [https://www.kyronlearning.com/]  Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Signals Podcast and leave us a review! Share this episode with educators, innovators, and anyone who believes in the power of learning, creativity, and technology to move education forward.

From Classroom to Clicks: Teaching Adult Learners and Navigating AI in Online Higher Ed

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-becknell-93698320a]Website:https://www.oc.edu/ [https://www.oc.edu/] Follow Us On Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/]  Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/]  Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/ [https://www.kyronlearning.com/]  Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Signals Podcast and leave us a review! Share this episode with educators, innovators, and anyone who believes in the power of learning, creativity, and technology to move education forward.

Rethinking Education: Student Agency, Open Resources, and Flexibility with Dr. Scott Robinson

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/ [https://www.pdx.edu/]  Follow Us On Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/]  Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/]  Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/ [https://www.kyronlearning.com/]  Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Signals Podcast and leave us a review! Share this episode with educators, innovators, and anyone who believes in the power of learning, creativity, and technology to move education forward.

Balancing Asynchronous Freedom and Student Connection in Online University Courses

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/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-gargaro-106788176/] Website: https://www.smumn.edu/ [https://www.smumn.edu/]  Follow Us On Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/]  Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/]  Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/ [https://www.kyronlearning.com/]  Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Signals Podcast and leave us a review! Share this episode with educators, innovators, and anyone who believes in the power of learning, creativity, and technology to move education forward.