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 focused on discussing and sharing impactful teaching strategies that support all students and faculty. Join us as we feature conversations with experienced educators who discuss actionable, impactful, and evidence-based teaching strategies that may be applied across disciplines and instructional modalities. This podcast aims to support faculty professional development by providing access to broadly inclusive teaching strategies, supporting faculty of all appointment types and across all fields by discussing the keystone concepts of teaching and learning. Subscribe now to the Keystone Concepts in Teaching and Learning podcast on your favorite podcast platform to get notifications of new episodes as we explore teaching and learning small change strategies that you might even wish to try out in your course yet this semester! Hosted by: Rachel Yoho, CDP, PhD Produced by: Kelly Chandler, MA
Episodes
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...
Dr. Aimee Weinstein joins Keystone Concepts host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to discuss how to get started as a new faculty member... or perhaps, how you – as an experienced faculty member – might support your new colleagues.
Resources: Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/ George Mason University motto, mission, vision, core values, and more: https://catalog.gmu.edu/about-mason/university/ Stearn...
Dr. Cameron Harris joins Keystone Concepts host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to discuss the logistics and considerations for teaching when you are assigned to teach a new-to-you course.
Resources: Please be sure to also check out Episode 9, “Syllabi Supporting Learners and Instructors” https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/season-1-fall-2024-keystone-concepts-in-teaching/ Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning Current Syllabus Guidance: https://ste...
Join our guest host, Kelly Chandler, as she talks with Dr. Rachel Yoho about how we can make our syllabi more inclusive of all learners and us as the instructor in the first of our “Hear From Your Host” series.
Resources: Eberly, M. B., Newton, S. E., & Wiggins, R. A. (2001). The syllabus as a tool for student-centered learning. The Journal of General Education, 50(1), 56–74., Bers, T., Davis, D., & Taylor, W. (19...
Drs. Richard Craig, LaNitra Berger, and Courtney Massie join your host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to discuss how we productively have conversations, facilitate student writing, and grade when centered around potentially challenging topics.
Resources: Office of Faculty Affairs and Development: https://provost.gmu.edu/about/administrative-units/faculty-affairs-and-development (Contact this office for faculty affinity group informat...
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