In this episode, host Kelsey Peterson talks with Dr. Scott Robinson, Director of Digital Learning and Design at Portland State University, about the seismic shift from professors as content gatekeepers to instructors as facilitators of learning, and why this change boosts student motivation, relevance, and outcomes. With questions also from Dr. Mallory Dwinal Palisch, the conversation explores open education, agency, and the future of stackable credentials.
Scott traces the arc from the lecture-and-regurgitation model to today’s participatory approaches where students help create knowledge. He explains how open educational resources (OER) do more than save money. They enable authentic, lasting student contributions that live beyond “disposable” assignments. The discussion also unpacks PSU’s distinctive approach to access and flexibility: no separate “online college,” just one institution where students mix modalities term by term to fit real lives and real goals.
Key Moments
03:53 "Collaborative Education Increases Student Agency"
06:46 Eliminate Online vs In-Person Divide
11:02 "Empowering Learning Through Open Pedagogy"
15:47 Shifting Perspectives in Education
19:08 Evolving Learning Methods
23:10 "Rethinking Education Models"
25:39 Improving Access to Education
29:54 Flexible Course Options for Students
31:14 "PDX OAI Resource Hub"
Why You’ll Love This Episode
If you’re building programs for today’s learners with real constraints, this episode offers a practical blueprint: prioritize agency, leverage OER to make learning participatory, design assessments that persist, and stop centering modality with center meaningful engagement. You’ll also hear how PSU operationalizes flexibility without spinning up a separate online enterprise, creating pathways that meet students where they are.
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