Tech Talk: E-learning Designer Wins Award for Innovative Podcast

Removing barriers to education, fostering equitable and inclusive learning environments, and increasing access to high-quality educational resources has been central to Terry Greene's mission as a senior e-learning designer with Trent Online.

Terry focuses on creating engaging online experiences. Central to his work is the philosophy of open education, a movement that seeks to broaden access to learning by promoting the use of freely available educational resources. These resources make education more accessible, equitable, and adaptable to the needs of diverse learners.

His podcast, "Gettin' Air: The Open Pedagogy Podcast", is a prime example, and recently earned him the 2024 Wildcard Award from Open Education Global - a recognition that celebrates emerging innovations in the field.

Launched in 2018, "Gettin' Air" now boasts 170 episodes of 30-minute conversations with experts in technology-based learning. Terry's podcast serves as a platform for these ideas, connecting educators globally to share strategies and insights that break down barriers to learning.

"The thing I am most proud of is the list of amazing guests from all over the world," said Terry. "It's also incredible to see the uptake in podcast creation and usage from Trent faculty as they implement the practice within their courses."

Like Terry's podcast, Trent Online seeks to support faculty, staff, and students as they navigate an increasingly digital post-secondary experience. The department develops and integrates of a variety of digital learning tools in their online courses, classroom digital supports, and internal programming.

"High quality online learning requires the right mix of education, engagement, and creativity," said Kristy Buccieri, acting associate dean of Teaching and Learning at Trent. "Our team at Trent Online has showcased this kind of innovation through the creation of diverse online courses, micro-credentials, virtual simulations, and collaborative projects that engage the Trent community and beyond."

Learn more about the various teaching and learning resources available at Trent, including recent initiatives like the Online Teaching Playground, the Ebook of One's Own, and Big Shiny Courses, by visiting trentu.ca/teaching.