Keystone Concepts in Teaching: A Higher Education Podcast from the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning
Keystone Concepts in Teaching is a higher education podcast from the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning at George Mason University. We focus on impactful teaching strategies that support students and faculty. Join us for conversations with experienced educators across disciplines and instructional modalities who share their actionable, evidence-based tips from the classroom! Why keystone concepts? These are essential ideas that support effective teaching and learning. Our podcast aims to enhance faculty development by sharing these concepts and inclusive strategies to support faculty of all types and disciplines. Subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform to get notified about new episodes every 2 weeks during the spring and fall semesters. Listen to our <25-minute episodes while you're on the go to discover small change strategies you might try now! Hosted by: Rachel Yoho, CDP, PhD Produced by: Kelly Chandler, MA
Episodes
Find out how the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning at George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching Excellence are natural collaborators as we navigate how to support faculty in today’s higher education landscape. In this episode, your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, explores this dynamic educational partnership with guests Dr. Indigo Eriksen and Hector Revollo from NVCC. The...
Dive into our discussion with Drs. Stephanie Bluth and Alyssa Bivins from the Graduate Division! The host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, explores how our guests developed their innovative graduate teacher training programs, the importance of strategic unit collaboration across universities, and why everyone could benefit from having teaching skills. Find out how the Graduate Division developed evidence-based solutions to a ubiquitous issue in h...
In this episode, Dr. Tawnya Azar joins your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to share actionable strategies about how to avoid becoming the “AI Police” and teach students to think critically about how and when to responsibly use AI in college. Additionally, she shares how to meaningfully build rapport and trust with students in an online classroom and provides insightful tips to help students find value in demonstrating their learning – rath...
Drs. Esther Park, Iulia Fratila, Allison Miner, and Yanika Kowitlawakul join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to discuss how they got started as new faculty members, their efforts to transform their teaching and students’ learning, and engagement with professional development.
Resource: Stearns Center events calendar: https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/events/ (events open to Mason affiliates only)
Dr. Lynnette Leonard and Dr. Dakota McCarty join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to explore how we approach from different disciplines teaching difficult topics, including those with social contexts and relevance.
Resource: Mason Korea website: https://masonkorea.gmu.edu
Drs. Tom Polk and Joan Hwang join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to explore what Writing Across the Curriculum is, how it has developed, and current initiatives and impacts.
Resources: Writing Across the Curriculum: https://wac.gmu.edu/ WAC Research Reports: https://wac.gmu.edu/past-assessment-and-program-review-resources/ Meaningful Writing Report: go.gmu.edu/meaningfulwriting
In our second Hear From Your Host episode, Dr. Rachel Yoho, the regular host of the podcast, becomes the guest as Producer Kelly Chandler guest hosts to facilitate a conversation on how we prepare for and navigate difficult situations in educational spaces.
Resource: Stearns Center Events Calendar (registrations for George Mason affiliates only): https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/events/
Dr. Lisa Gring-Pemble, Dr. Aimee Weinstein, Maoria Kirker, and Doug McKenna join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to discuss alternative grading strategies such as ungrading.
Resource: Stearns Center Events Calendar (registrations for Mason affiliates only): https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/events/
Zach Greenberg, from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), joins your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, as the first guest from outside of the university to have an exploratory and academic talk about the timely topics of free speech and academic freedom. Please note that this episode was planned in June 2025 and recorded in August 2025. This is an academic exploration of a topic, not a set of directives, as are all podc...
Vicki Dominick from Learning Services joins your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to discuss the resources and opportunities available through the efforts of the Learning Services office.
Resources: Learning Services at George Mason University: https://learningservices.gmu.edu Learning Services workshop announcements: https://learningservices.gmu.edu/workshops/ Tutoring resources: https://learningservices.gmu.edu/tutoring-resources2/
Dr. Leigh McCue, Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Philip Wilkerson, Employer Engagement Consultant, join Dr. Rachel Yoho to discuss how podcasting can be a transformative communication strategy – for your course, research, department, or even as a hobby to make professional connections.
Resources: Please check out the Mason Mechanical Engineer, hosted by Dr. Leigh McCue and Philip Wilkerson, where Dr. Rachel Y...
Kristen Wright and Dr. Shauna Rigaud, of the Office of Community Engagement and Civic Learning at George Mason University, join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to discuss opportunities for community-engaged teaching and civic learning and... maybe a little teaching and learning magic!
Resources: Office of Community Engagement and Civic Learning (CECiL) Website: https://cecil.gmu.edu/ CECiL’s Community-Based Learning Introduction: http...
In this episode, two inspiring Mason Korea faculty members, John David McGrew and Dr. Deborah Kwak, join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to explore key considerations for teaching at an international campus of a US university, as well as what has inspired them lately.
Resource: https://masonkorea.gmu.edu
Drs. Raven Russell and Laurel Marsh join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to discuss some of the key stressors and big issues for new and “less new” faculty today. We explore strategies to make teaching easier and better for everyone in the space.
Drs. Breana Bayraktar and Lila Fleming visit us to discuss Canvas, including key ideas, tips, and considerations whether you’re an experienced Canvas user or new to teaching.
Resource: Information about the Canvas transition https://lms.gmu.edu/
Dr. Joisanne Rodgers and Shyama Kuyver from the Contemporary Student Services office join us to talk about who are our contemporary students and how we can support them in their educational journey.
Resources: Contemporary Student Services Office: https://contemporary.gmu.edu
Prof. Kelly Knight and Dr. Christine Rosenfeld chat with us about how we might increase access to courses, even those in STEM like labs and field experiences.
Resources: https://phet.colorado.edu Disability Services: https://ds.gmu.edu Office of Access, Compliance, and Community: https://oacc.gmu.edu
Dr. Laura Poms, Director of the Mason Core, joins us again to provide updates on the Mason Core and expand on undergraduate student learning experiences from the Mason Core and beyond.
Resources: Mason Core Website: https://masoncore.gmu.edu/ Mason Core Categories: https://masoncore.gmu.edu/mason-core-course-categories/
Drs. Glynita Bell and Amy Preston Page visit Keystone Concepts in Teaching to discuss an important part of the university community: military-affiliated learners. We explore strategies that support all students in education, and consider the unique needs of the military and military-adjacent community.
Resources: George Mason University Office of Military Services: https://military.gmu.edu/ George Mason University Human Resources...
Join us for a conversation with Maoria J. Kirker, MS, to explore the many resources of the university library and consider opportunities to collaborate with librarians.
Resources: George Mason University Library: https://library.gmu.edu Data & Digital Scholarship Services: https://dsc.gmu.edu George Mason University Libraries Special Collections Research Center: https://scrc.gmu.edu Library Instructional Support links: http...
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