HeyJaredProf Talk Pod
Welcome to the Prof Talk Pod, hosted by Dr. Becky Achen, a professor of practice at the University of Kansas and founder of The Engaged Professor. This podcast is a resource for teachers in higher education who want to improve their teaching and stay up-to-date on trends.
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 6
- Latest publication
- Sep 17, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 9, 2026
Latest episodes
AI Use Case: Integrating Industry News Into Your Courses (opens the original)
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In this episode of the Prof Talk Pod, Becky Achen and co-host Katie share a practical AI use case for staying current in your field and bringing timely, relevant examples into class. Katie explains how she uses ChatGPT Plus Projects and the Scheduled Tasks feature to generate weekly news briefings tailored to specific courses (e.g., sustainability reporting/ESG, tax, accounting) using keywords, preferred credible sources, and prompts that produce headlines, summaries, why it matters, alignment t
Tips for Planning Your First Study Abroad Experience (opens the original)
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In this episode of the Prof Talk Pod, Becky and Katie discuss what it takes to set up a faculty-led study abroad, why it can be impactful for students (confidence, perspective, cultural intelligence), and why it can also be demanding for faculty. Katie shares her early-stage experience preparing to lead a spring break 2027 trip to Mexico and explains how study abroad formats vary from semester exchanges to short faculty-led trips. They emphasize the heavy administrative and logistical workload,
Michigan’s Pass/Fail Grade Pilot (opens the original)
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Co-hosts Becky and Katie discuss the announcement that the University of Michigan is piloting pass/fail grading for some first-semester freshmen starting fall 2027. They talk about Michigan’s stated goals of reducing student stress and mental health strain and encouraging academic exploration, while raising questions about equity (why only one college and one semester), whether students should have choice, and potential downstream impacts on prerequisites and professional pathways like med schoo
How to Plan an Engaging First Day of Class (opens the original)
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In this solo episode of The Prof Talk Pod, host Becky Achen revisits planning for the first day of class and argues that “syllabus day” is a missed opportunity to build buy-in, set the tone, and help students feel excited to return. She emphasizes that while the syllabus and clear expectations matter, professors also need to communicate the course’s value proposition and show up with energy, especially amid add/drop churn. Becky suggests using intentional, connection-building activities, such as
Using Case Studies to Boost Student Engagement (opens the original)
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In this episode of the Prof Talk Pod, Becky and Katie discuss why case studies are an experiential, active-learning tool that helps students apply theory, reflect, and debate, while recognizing there often isn’t one “right” answer—just more defensible ones. Katie shares how she uses case studies in business and tax classes, including small, frequent “bite-sized” cases (like comparing state cannabis tax policies) and semester-long, evolving cases that build continuity with a single client and inc
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