In this episode of MAC Talks, host Claire Wilkison teams up with special guests Claudette Jackson (Director of Accommodations & Title IX) and Katie Vise (Accommodations Coordinator) to dive into the real, raw, and sometimes hilarious truths about digital accessibility in higher education.
They share powerful "aha" moments—from navigating accommodations for students with disabilities to personal reflections on burnout and self-advocacy. The crew unpacks the new DOJ ruling on accessibility, what it really means for faculty and students, and how institutions can support inclusive design without losing their creative spark.
You'll hear:
Personal stories that flip the script on how we see disability and accommodation
Eye-opening insights on why font size and color contrast aren't just design details—they’re access points
Straight talk on what the DOJ accessibility ruling actually changes (spoiler: it’s more mindset than monster)
Tools, tips, and PD opportunities MCC is rolling out to support faculty—no Comic Sans allowed
Whether you're an accessibility pro or just starting the journey, this episode brings a blend of wit, wisdom, and warm-hearted advocacy that reminds us: when we design for access, everyone wins.
Looking to freshen up your classroom? Join us as Jessica Hobbs shares how podcasting has transformed her teaching approach. In this conversation, Jessica explains how replacing traditional essays with audio projects has engaged her students in ways she never expected.
Learn how podcasts have helped her students:
Jessica's students are creating everything from historical narratives to community-focused content. If you're wondering how to modernize your teaching methods, this discussion offers practical insights into the educational potential of podcasting.
Designed for educators who want to enhance their teaching toolkit without compromising learning outcomes. See how audio projects might work in your classroom.
In this episode, we sit down with Joshua Sullwold, a tech-savvy educator from MCC’s Computer Information Systems department, to talk all things Hyflex teaching, cybersecurity, and AI in education. From web development to cybersecurity, Joshua’s classroom is a digital playground—except when Hyflex makes things a little chaotic.
We explore the challenges and strategies of Hyflex teaching, including the art of balancing in-person and online students without leaving anyone in the digital dust. Plus, we dive into AI’s role in education, from generating discussion prompts to predicting assignment difficulties—because who doesn’t want a little AI-powered magic in their workflow?
And if you’ve ever wondered about the future of AI (spoiler: it’s not taking over just yet), Joshua shares his thoughts on where the tech is heading and how educators can prepare.
Tune in for an insightful, engaging, and tech-forward conversation that might just change the way you think about teaching in the digital age!
Hosts:
John Ghazzagh - Coordinator, Instructional Design
TJ Waldie - Instructional Application Specialist
Welcome to 2025! The Instructional Design and Innovation team return with what they think are the top Instructional Design and Technology trends in Higher Education for 2025 are and what they think that means for McLennan Community College. Episode Breakdown 1-14 minutes : Icebreaker, getting to know Krystal our newest Instructional Designer. 15-46 Minutes: John, Claire, TJ and Krystal talk about trends in Instructional Design like A.I., Gamification, Collaborative Learning and more.
Hosts:
This episode of MAC Talks is a resource for our Accessibility Law Professional Development course. You don't have to take it to listen though!
This episode has been generated entirely by Google's NotebookLM AI software. https://notebooklm.google.com/
To learn more about Accessibility Law or Google's NotebookLM reach out to us at online@mclennan.edu
Welcome to the latest episode of MAC Talks, where hosts John Ghazzagh and Richard Leslie sit down with Tim Mousel, the AI wizard moonlighting as a kinesiology professor at Lone Star College.
Tim talks about how he went from MMA studio owner to AI aficionado, creating game-changing tools like Pocket AI and eFit software. We also get Tim's thoughts on the wild world of AI in education, where it is and where we are heading.
John Ghazzagh - LinkedIN
In this special episode of MAC Talks, we have 3 special guests: Czech exchange students that are taking classes and working at MCC!
These amazing students share their experiences here in the US and at McLennan Community College.
In this podcast episode, Kathleen Hicks, Director of Online Learning for English at Arizona State University, shares her experiences integrating generative AI into teaching and course development. She discusses the challenges and benefits of using tools like Chat GPT to create targeted content for students, and emphasizes the importance of teaching students about AI ethics and academic integrity. Kathleen also highlights the potential of AI to enhance interdisciplinary learning and the need for educators to prepare themselves and their students for its widespread use in the future. The conversation concludes with Kathleen presenting AI-generated business proposals that improved student writing and communication skills, and encouraging faculty to experiment with AI tools to address specific learning challenges in their courses.
Kathleen Hicks, ASU
John Ghazzagh, McLennan Community College
In this episode, Joanna shares her passion for Open Educational Resources (OER) and how they can transform higher education. Discover how OER empowers educators to freely share, reuse and remix teaching materials to benefit students. Joanna shares her insights on the cost-saving and creative potential of OER, the importance of proper attribution, and how building an OER community can help teachers find support. Tune in to learn how you can leverage OER to enhance your courses without reinventing the wheel! Joanna Schimizzi - LinkedIN
John Ghazzagh - LinkedIN
Jessica Zbeda - LinkedIN
Mary Sides - LinkedIN
Join us for an insightful conversation with Michaela McCown, Associate Professor of Environmental Science, and Kristen Cook, Research Librarian, as we delve into the world of embedded librarianship on MAC Talks. As online education continues to grow, librarians are stepping out from behind the stacks and into virtual classrooms. Discover how this collaborative approach between librarians and faculty is transforming research support and enriching the online learning landscape.
In this Episode:
John Ghazzagh - Instructional Designer
Michaela McCown - Associate Professor
Kristen Cook - Research Librarian
In this episode, we'll be exploring the world of education with Jennifer Chapman, Assistant Professor of Child Development & Education at McLennan Community College.
Join us as Jennifer discusses the nuances of teaching, the attrition of educators, and her compassionate approach to connecting with students through online videos.
It's a thoughtful conversation that will leave you with a deeper understanding of the challenges and joys of the teaching profession.
Follow us on Instagram, send us your comments or suggestions - https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/
In this episode, we're hanging out with Travis Cox, Associate Professor of Communication Studies at McLennan Community College.
Get this - he's tossed the traditional grading playbook out the window. Instead, Travis is all about using projects to see what his students have really learned.
And when it comes to feedback? He's ditching the red pen for something way cooler - personalized video messages.
Oh, and he's a bit of a podcast enthusiast too. He's even had his students critique some of our episodes and, get this, turn podcasts into projects. How cool is that?
Follow us on Instagram, send us your comments or suggestions - https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/
Part 2 of a 2 Part Podcast.
Dr. Fred Hills, Assistant Vice President of Instruction and Student Engagement for McLennan Community College talks with us about High Impact Practices, Student Engagement and Open Educational Resources.
Follow us on Instagram, send us your comments or suggestions - https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/
Part I of a 2 Part Podcast.
Dr. Fred Hills, Vice President of Instruction and Student Engagement for Mclennan Community College talks with us about High Impact Practices, Student Engagement and what the future of Higher Education looks like.
Follow us on Instagram, send us your comments or suggestions - https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/
Christopher Morris talks about being a new instructor in Higher Ed, adding comedy to the classroom (and to the podcast!), the challenges of teaching Hyflex and continuously growing.
If you're interested in us covering a topic about course design, or if you'd like to guest star...or both, shoot us an email: online@mclennan.edu
Christopher Morris - Associate Professor
Claire Wilkison, Instructional Designer
John Ghazzagh, Instructional Designer
TJ Waldie, Instructional Technologist
Instructional Designers - Connect with us on our Discord Network!
MCC Instructional Design and Innovation Website Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/
In this episode of Mac Talks, Instructional Designers Katherine, John, Claire and Instructional Technologist TJ talk about A.I. in higher education and what to look for this school year.
We also discuss Katherine's last day at MCC. If you're interested in us covering a topic about course design, or if you'd like to guest star...or both, shoot us an email: online@mclennan.edu Katherine Franker, Instructional Designer
John Ghazzagh, Instructional Designer
Claire Wilkison, Instructional Designer
TJ Waldie, Instructional Technologist
Instructional Designers - Connect with us on our Discord Network!
MCC Instructional Design and Innovation Website Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/
This week on MAC Talks, we talk about our process for online course quality and how it's not just an Instructional Design thing. Faculty, directors and deans all play an important role in making sure our online courses meet high standards. We also discuss what we look for as instructional designers to ensure courses meet our high quality standards. If you're interested in checking out our PGP (Principles of Good Practice) form, there's a link to it on our website here: https://www.mclennan.edu/center-for-teaching-and-learning/
If you're interested in us covering a topic about course design, or if you'd like to guest star...or both, shoot us an email: online@mclennan.edu
In this episode we sit down with Felicia Gladden, Professor of Government. We talk about what inspired her to become a professor and what brought her to MCC. Felicia also talks about her teaching philosophies, the challenges she faces with students in a post-COVID world.
If you're interested in us covering a topic about course design, or if you'd like to guest star...or both, shoot us an email: online@mclennan.edu
Guest: Felicia Gladden- Connect on LinkedIN - Felicia's Podcast: Conversations with Community Members
Host: John Ghazzagh - Connect on LinkedIN
Instructional Designers - Connect with us on our Discord Network!
MCC Instructional Design and Innovation Website
Follow us on Instagram, send us your comments or suggestions - https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/
In this episode we chat with Starlen Roddy, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Specialist and Adjunct Instructor at McLennan Community College. We talk with Starlen about his background, how he came to MCC and how he became a DEI specialist. We also explore how faculty and staff can create a more inclusive culture for students.
If you're interested in us covering a topic about course design, or if you'd like to guest star...or both, shoot us an email: online@mclennan.edu
Follow us on Instagram, send us your comments or suggestions - https://www.instagram.com/mcc_idi/
Still using Facebook? WELL WE ARE TOO! Feel free to follow our antics.
Website: https://www.mclennan.edu/center-for-teaching-and-learning/index.html
Guest:
Starlen Roddy - LinkedIN
Hosts:
Claire Wilkison, Katherine Franker - MCC Instructional Design and Innovation