The Letters and Science Exchange

In the second episode of our two-part miniseries on coaching, Molly Harris talks with Gary White, Associate Head Coach of the UW Volleyball team. Coach White discusses how he and his coaching team foster belonging and resilience in their student-athletes. He emphasizes the importance of goal-setting and the feedback loop to support individual and team growth.   

This episode is the first in our series on coaching and teaching. Exchange Producer David Macasaet talks with Jon Reader, Associate Head Coach of the UW-Madison Wrestling team. They discuss supporting student athletes on and off the mat and the inclusive experience of communally conquering a challenge–like running the Camp Randall stairs at 6am.

We wrap up 2023 with a thank you to all our guests, supporters, and listeners. And we tease our upcoming limited series. Listen now to find out what’s up next in 2024! 

In this episode, Exchange Producer David Macasaet sits down with Sam Pazicni, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, to discuss assessment in chemistry education. Sam shares how his background in music performance has influenced his approach to creating authentic, equitable assessments. He also introduces our audience to the Science Practices from the Next Generation Science Standards as an additional framework to help instructors specify learning goals.

In this episode, Laura Schmidli speaks with Dr. Janet Batzli, Director and Distinguished Faculty Associate Emerita in the Biocore Program, as she looks back on over two decades of teaching experience. Dr. Batzli shares inclusive practices from biology classrooms and from her research with colleagues. We explore experiential learning, student leadership and mentoring, threshold concepts, and ways of knowing within a discipline.

In this episode, we talk with Cindy I-Fen Cheng, Robinson Edwards Professor of American History and Asian American Studies and current Interim Director at the Center for the Humanities. Cindy speaks about her personal experience with inclusive teaching and how her teaching practice has evolved to better account for her own well being and positionality.

In this episode, we get ready for the first day of class with three L&S instructors: Ralph Grunewald, Associate Professor in the Department of English and the Center for Law, Society, and Justice; Brittney Edmonds, Assistant Professor in the Department of African American Studies; and Melissa Lindsey, Teaching Faculty and Director of Instructional Support in the Department of Mathematics. These instructors share how they prepare for the first day of classes with an eye toward creating an inclusive classroom atmosphere and transparent course expectations. We hear clips from inside the classroom and reflect on how teaching and learning has been impacted by the pandemic. 

In this episode, we talk about writing with Emily Hall, Director of Writing Across the Curriculum and the Undergraduate Writing Fellows program at UW-Madison, and Angela Zito, Director of Writing Consulting at Albion College. They provide insights into how writing can promote learning and a sense of belonging for students, and they share advice for instructors looking to craft transparent and meaningful writing assignments. We also explore the impact of AI on how instructors and students think about and engage in writing.

In this bonus episode, we reflect on where we’ve been so far, share episode highlights, and preview what’s to come on the L&S Exchange Podcast.

In this episode, we talk with John Zumbrunnen, Professor of Political Science and the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning at UW-Madison. John talks about how meaningful learning experiences are grounded in authentic relationships with students, and he provides practical guidance about how to balance the constitutional principle of free speech with the goals and priorities of the classroom. 

In this episode, we talk with Christy Clark-Pujara, Professor of History in the Department of African American Studies, about how she makes classroom discussions more inclusive. Christy shares proactive steps that instructors can take to create an inclusive classroom atmosphere, as well as tips for facilitating discussions around challenging topics. She also delves into why understanding the history of UW-Madison matters for instructors and students in any discipline.

During this episode, Tony Chambers sits down with Exchange Producer, Molly Harris, to discuss challenges and opportunities for instructors looking to foster a sense of belonging in their classrooms. We were thrilled to gather so much insightful information on this subject, and we're excited to share it with our listeners.

We are excited to share with you our in-depth conversation about student flourishing, featuring Professor John Dunne, the Distinguished Professor of Contemplative Humanities in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures. During this episode, Professor Dunne sits down with Exchange Producer, David Macasaet, to discuss a range of topics related to student flourishing, including the popular Art and Science of Human Flourishing course at UW-Madison, The Healthy Minds Program, and teaching strategies that draw upon meditative practice.

In this episode, we explore the connection between belonging, student wellbeing, and inclusive teaching. John D. Dunne, Distinguished Professor of Contemplative Humanities in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, shares inclusive teaching strategies grounded in meditative practice from the popular Art and Science of Human Flourishing course. And we hear from Tony Chambers, Director of Equity, Innovation, and Inclusion at the Center for Healthy Minds, who discusses challenges and opportunities for instructors looking to foster a sense of belonging in their classrooms.

Season 1 of the Exchange podcast is an exploration of teaching through the lens of inclusion. In episode 1, we hear from L&S Dean Eric Wilcots on his passion for teaching and his philosophy on inclusive education. Interviewed by Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning, Shirin Malekpour, Dean Wilcots discusses the diverse student body at UW-Madison and the need to be intentional about welcoming the varying backgrounds and experiences of students to ensure their success.