Ep. 34: Guidelines Over Policies: Smarter AI Adoption in Higher Ed

About this episode

In this episode, Brian talks with Rob McDole, Director for the Center of Teaching and Learning at Cedarville University, about how AI is transforming the way higher education teaches and learns. The conversation explores how AI supports recall-based learning, helping students move beyond cramming for tests to actually retaining and understanding what they study. They also discuss why institutions need to move past fear and start engaging directly with AI, how guidelines work better than rigid policies in fast-moving environments, and why responsible experimentation is the key to smarter adoption.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [5:58] Overcoming hesitation and building responsible AI frameworks
• [11:17] The wake-up call: “If you’re not using it, your students are”
• [16:20] AI and learning science: recall, retention, and real understanding

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Hugging Face
• Grok AI
• ChatGPT
• Transform Your Teaching with Dr. Barbara Oakley
• Uncommon Sense Teaching

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for AI for U with Brian Piper in your favorite podcast player.

Episode prompt: 

This prompt framework comes directly from Geoff Woods, author of The AI-Driven Leader.

The acronym stands for:

Context: Provide all the specific background information about your unique situation, business, and goals (e.g., “I am the marketing director at an R1 research university that is trying to increase applications and enrollments.”

Role: Assign the AI a specific expert persona, such as "an expert higher education marketer with a deep understanding of the admissions funnel" or an "organizational psychologist".

Interview: Ask the AI to interview you with a set number of questions (e.g., "ask me one question at a time, up to three questions") to gain deeper context.

Task: This is the final step where you tell the AI what to accomplish after it has gathered all the necessary information from the interview, such as, “based on the previous campaigns and initiatives we’ve attempted, create a list of additional opportunities and options that may help us better reach our goals.”

Guest Name: Dr. Robert McDole, Director for the Center of Teaching and Learning at Cedarville University

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-mcdole-509ba1113/

Guest Bio: Dr. Rob McDole is the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Cedarville University, where he leads initiatives in faculty development, instructional innovation, and online education. Since assuming this role in 2016, he has overseen the design and delivery of workshops, consultation services, and technical support to promote excellence in pedagogy across the university.

Dr. McDole earned his PhD in Educational Leadership from Columbia International University, where he developed a strong foundation in academic leadership, instructional strategy, and the effective integration of technology in higher education. His academic background informs his work in supporting Cedarville’s mission of equipping faculty and students for excellence in teaching and learning. 

A Cedarville alumnus (Class of 1998), Dr. McDole returned to his alma mater after serving as the Director of Online Education at Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon. There, he led the development and implementation of online programs, gaining extensive experience in distance learning and instructional design. 

At Cedarville, he oversees a dynamic team at the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), providing services such as faculty consultation, course design support, multimedia production, and technology integration. His team plays a vital role in enhancing the university’s educational practices and helping faculty adapt to evolving instructional needs. 

Dr. McDole is also the co-host of the Transform Your Teaching podcast, where he explores contemporary issues in education—from pedagogy and learning theory to emerging tools like artificial intelligence and their practical application in the classroom. His leadership encourages innovation while staying grounded in Cedarville’s Christ-centered academic mission.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/

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