For Terry Greene, hosting a podcast was never a part of his professional aspirations. 

The senior eLearning designer with Trent Online first interacted with the medium while participating in one of the longest-standing open-access courses, Digital Storytelling (affectionately known as DS106). What started as a last-minute dash for a professional development goal and a healthy sense of curiosity has led Greene on a journey into the world of podcasting. 

“It all started when I was invited to be a guest on Stephen Hurley's show on VoicEd Radio Canada,” said Greene. “That experience gave me a taste of what podcasting could be. Stephen then encouraged me to start my own show, and that's when the show came to life.” 

Six years and 162 episodes later, Greene's show Gettin' Air - The Open Pedagogy Podcast hosts riveting conversations with academics and experts about technology-enabled and open-learning practices in post-secondary education. 

“The main idea behind the show was to give folks in education and tech some airtime to share their insights and experiences. It's been a fantastic opportunity for both me and the listeners to get new ideas and perspectives.” 

Integrating podcasts into course design

Greene's passion for incorporating podcasting into education led to an innovative collaboration with Dr. Erick Laming, assistant professor of Criminology at Trent, to design a course that integrated podcasts as another way for students to learn.  

“We wanted to break away from the traditional lecture format,” Greene said. “Instead of recorded mini lectures, why not make it a podcast? We provide the audio separately and do the lecture as a conversation, with slide content complementary to the audio. Having a guest in the lecture allows for dynamic, two-way discussions, making the learning experience much richer.” 

Discussing the importance of accessibility in education, Greene shared that this format allows for students to absorb the information in the way that makes the most sense to them and their needs. "When we do the podcast, we also create a transcript of it. This ensures that the content is searchable and that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access the information. It's about increasing the reach and impact of educational content.” 

Greene continues to challenge conventional teaching models to help make education more engaging, functional, and accessible for all. 

“Learning should never be a one-way street,” he said. “It's not just about professors imparting knowledge to students. Education should foster a multidirectional flow of ideas, experiences, and insights.” 

Learn more about how Trent Online is changing the face of education, and be sure to listen to Gettin' Air wherever you enjoy podcasts.