In the opening months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the usual classroom environments and teaching modalities were turned upside down overnight. The sudden transition from in-class discussion and collaboration to talking to grid squares on a computer screen was a shock to the system for faculty and students alike. This change also meant easy burnout and frequent isolation, which Professor-of-Practice Radhika Zaveri immediately noticed. To remedy this, she created a novel solution.
Professor Zaveri knew about the benefits of staying active during the throes of lockdown, and she wanted to help her students “uncover deeper thoughts” while enjoying the outdoors. This was the genesis of the PODWalk podcast series. With hardware and software consultation from Cox ATSD Mike Gebreselassie, she created a turn-key production setup using a high-quality microphone and the open-source Audacity editing software to create her podcast that features C-suite executives from across the business world to complement her online course content. Episodes feature discussions about marketing challenges, social impact, and even life journeys and former student experiences. Professor Zaveri encouraged enjoying these podcasts in the outdoors while undertaking physical activity, breaking the monotony of constant online coursework and Zoom meetings with something different in a world that had become so suddenly regimented.
The podcast proved popular not just with her students, but with the public as well! So much so, in fact, that the podcast has continued beyond the pandemic, becoming a regular feature of the Professor’s courses and a long-term boon born from such tumultuous times. This podcast and the technology consultation used to launch it is just one of the many examples of our Academic Technology resources available to all faculty regardless of discipline or skill level. We invite you to begin a conversation with your local ATSD, and see where it takes your ideas to new levels!
Professor Zaveri’s PODWalk series is available on YouTube, Spotify and LinkedIn!
