In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Rhea Kelly, Editor-in-Chief of Campus Technology, dives into leadership in higher education IT with Sean McDonald, president of MOR Associates. They discuss defining leadership, the major challenges for leaders today, including complexity and prioritization, and how AI is shaping the future of higher ed. Sean shares his insights on creating a culture of shared governance, fostering diverse perspectives, and the importance of strategic thinking.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:26 Sean McDonald's Background and Work
01:11 Defining Leadership in Higher Education
03:17 Challenges for Leaders in Higher Education
03:54 Complexity and Focus in Higher Ed IT
06:51 Strategic Thinking and Leadership
10:11 Shared Governance and Change Management
13:40 Impact of AI on Leadership
16:53 Overcoming Leadership Challenges
22:26 Practical Leadership Tips and Coaching
25:09 Final Advice for Aspiring Leaders
27:10 Conclusion and Podcast Sign-off
Resource links:
Music: Mixkit
Duration: 28 minutes
Transcript (coming soon)
In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Rhea Kelly sits down with Sidney Fernandes, CIO, and VP of Digital Experiences at the University of South Florida. They discuss the impact of agentic AI in higher education, focusing on USF's initiatives to make technology and workflows user-friendly. Topics include the formation of the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, strategies for integrating AI to improve student and faculty experiences, and the importance of security, compliance, and data governance in AI deployment. In addition, they explore how USF leverages student ambassadors to scale AI literacy and solutions across its campuses.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:30 Sydney Fernandez's Background and Role at USF
01:10 USF's Technology Strategy: Making It Easy
02:44 Digital Experiences at USF
05:33 AI Initiatives and Early Goals
13:32 Scaling AI with Student Ambassadors
23:44 Challenges and Lessons Learned
26:08 Future of AI at USF
29:19 Conclusion and Farewell
Resource links:
Music: Mixkit
Duration: 30 minutes
Transcript
In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Rhea Kelly sits down with Jenay Robert, Senior Researcher at Educause, to discuss the 2025 Horizon Action Plan focusing on building skills and literacy for using generative AI in higher education. They delve into the process behind Educause's annual Horizon reports, the actionable advice stemming from these reports, and the preferred future that educators and institutions should be aiming for. They also explore the goals for higher education over the next decade, the shift from AI policy to practical training, and the specific actions that different levels within institutions can take to integrate AI effectively. Jenay also teases her upcoming research project on AI's impact on day-to-day work in higher education.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:42 Understanding the Educause Action Plans
02:40 Focus on Generative AI Skills and Literacy
05:51 Preferred Future for Higher Education
10:40 Actionable Steps for Institutions
17:01 Next Steps and Future Research
20:10 Conclusion and Farewell
Resource links:
Music: Mixkit
Duration: 21 minutes
Transcript
In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Editor in Chief Rhea Kelly sits down with John Baker, CEO of D2L, to discuss the current state of the ed tech industry and the impact of AI on education. The conversation delves into how AI is being integrated into educational platforms to enhance both teaching and student experiences, the importance of responsible AI usage, and D2L's approach to AI innovation. Key topics also include faculty training, risk mitigation, and the future goals of AI in edtech.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:27 Personal Anecdotes and Learning Joy
01:10 AI's Role in Education
02:48 Innovations in Learning Platforms
06:48 Responsible AI Integration
11:55 Future Goals and Industry Trends
18:47 Advice for Higher Education Institutions
23:08 Conclusion and Farewell
Music: Mixkit
Duration: 24 minutes
Transcript
In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, host Rhea Kelly presents a keynote talk by Julia Freeland Fisher, the Director of Education Research at the Clayton Christensen Institute. Julia discusses the impacts of AI on social ties and the concept of social capital in education. She explores how AI can both challenge and enhance personal connections among students and educators. The presentation covers trends in AI companions, the rise of chatbots for college and career guidance, and offers recommendations for ensuring technology fosters rather than replaces human interactions in education.
00:00 Introduction to the Campus Technology Insider Podcast
00:20 Keynote Speaker Introduction: Julia Freeland Fisher
01:02 The Importance of Human Connection in the Age of AI
01:46 Defining Social Capital and Its Impact
07:31 The Role of AI in Education and Career Guidance
09:29 AI Companions: Disruption or Opportunity?
17:27 Research Findings on AI and Student Support
28:09 Balancing AI and Human Connection in Education
37:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Resource links:
Music: Mixkit
Duration: 41 minutes
Transcript
In this episode of Campus Technology Insider Podcast Shorts, hosted by Rhea Kelly, we explore the latest in higher education technology. Highlights include Tripti Sinha taking over as president and CEO of Internet2, a report from Anthropic on how faculty utilize generative AI, and an MIT Media Lab report revealing the shortcomings of enterprise AI investments. For more in-depth stories and analysis on higher ed tech, visit campustechnology.com.
00:00 Introduction to Campus Technology Insider
00:15 New Leadership at Internet2
00:55 Generative AI in Academia
01:34 Enterprise AI Reality Check
02:05 Conclusion and Further Resources
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Campus Technology Insider Podcast Shorts are curated by humans and narrated by AI.