Peer Review

Tea for Teaching: a Podcast on Teaching and Learning

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Reviewed:: Mar 7, 2025 by Instructional Design and Technology

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

From the About link for the Tea for Teaching Podcast: This podcast is a series of informal discussions of innovative and effective practices in teaching and learning. This podcast series is hosted by John Kane (an economist) and Rebecca Mushtare (a graphic designer). John and Rebecca run the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching at the State University of New York at Oswego.

As of March 2025, the site features just under 400 episodes, all of which can be reached from an Episodes tab at the top left-hand side of the homepage. Each podcast is accompanied by a Transcript and Notes (which are reference lists for the content).

Type of Material:

Reference Material - podcast series of educational significance. Each episode provides a podcast, transcript and notes (references).

Recommended Uses:

Given the large volume of podcast episodes, the faculty member has a large list of choices for topics.

Recommended uses include assigning particular episodes for class projects (in Teacher Education courses, for example); and depending on the date of publication, episodes can be used for research with follow-up reflections. The "Notes" feature provides references for further research of the topic.
Faculty also may elect to sample the podcasts on an ongoing basis and apply the content to their pedagogical approach.

Technical Requirements:

The podcasts are easily accessed with any web browser (and audio features on the computer).

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Each podcast episode is associated with a brief summary that explains what faculty will learn by listening. The podcasts cover a very wide variety of topics, including the following examples.

Transition to College: changes in the K-12 environment that impact student preparation for college;
Chatbots to Support Learning: the process of creating chatbots and some potential uses in higher education;
Civic Pedagogies: a new resource that suggests a variety of strategies that encourage students to address their differences and to engage productively in civic engagement projects.

Target Student Population:

College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School, Professional

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Prerequisites are not strictly required, but familiarity or experience with the contemporary classroom environment would be beneficial.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

A major strength of Tea for Teaching lies in the wide variety of topics available to the learner and educator.
Of particular note: There is a transcript for each podcast, and the Notes feature provides reference material for the content.

Concerns:

None.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The podcasts are professionally presented, and each summary provides a beneficial overview of the content.
In the podcasts, experts in the field are frequently interviewed, providing a sense of authenticity to the learner.
Most podcasts lie within 30 to 50 minutes in length (a manageable listening time).

Concerns:

In order to learn the length of an individual podcast, one must start listening.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

The layout is straightforward and easy to use.
Color is not used to convey meaning; what graphics or images exist contain alt text.
Transcripts are provided for the podcasts.

Concerns:

None.

Other Issues and Comments:: With resources always needed by the educator and learner, this series of podcasts is another very beneficial "tool in the toolbox" of education.
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