In this episode, host Kelsey Peterson sits down with Joseph Gargaro, Director of Learning Design at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, to unpack what it really takes to keep courses current, human, and effective in a post-COVID, AI-accelerated world. Joseph shares how shifting student expectations from pure flexibility to authentic connection is reshaping course design, faculty workflows, and program strategy.
From simple-but-powerful practices like scheduled 1:1 time and group video discussion boards to a pragmatic “seven-minute cadence” for live sessions, Joseph explains how his team blends synchronous touchpoints with asynchronous freedom. He also digs into adjunct engagement, continuous course refreshes, and the realistic role of AI as a “writer-in-the-loop” for cleaner prompts and clearer learning experiences.
Joseph is candid about experiments that didn’t land (e.g., generic open office hours) and those that did (structured calendar blocks, fluid content updates, and purposeful project-based learning). He also weighs the value of micro-credentials, the importance of virtue-anchored general education, and why his top advice for future learning designers is to teach first, then translate that craft online.
Key Moments
05:22 Rethinking Surveys for Honest Feedback
06:46 Innovative Teaching for Students
11:04 Effective Teaching: Keep Students Engaged
15:09 Adapting Education for Modern Needs
19:18 Future of Writing Assistance Tools
21:09 "Balancing AI and Human Teaching"
23:39 "Micro-Credentials: Worth the Cost?"
29:37 "Teaching Before Designing Courses"
30:46 Teaching & Learning Excellence Center
Why You’ll Love This Episode:
If you’re navigating the tension between learner connection and flexibility, this conversation gives you concrete moves to try next week: calendar-based 1:1s, group video discussions, a crisp seven-minute live-session rhythm, and a smart way to use AI without losing the human voice. You’ll hear how to keep asynchronous courses fresh with living resources, motivate adjuncts to iterate, and build project-based artifacts that actually signal readiness to employers, while grounding programs in values that cultivate well-rounded graduates.
Connect with Joseph Gargaro
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-gargaro-106788176/
Website: https://www.smumn.edu/
Follow Us On
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/
Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/
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