Why Distance Learning?

Many people think of distance learning as impersonal—a screen separating students from real connection. But at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it’s doing the exact opposite. It’s bringing students face-to-face with legends, life lessons, and the values that make great teams—and great people.

In this episode, Jerry Csaki, Senior Director of Youth, Education, and Leadership at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, shares how he’s turned virtual learning into a front-row seat to greatness. Through the award-winning Heart of a Hall of Famer series, students across nearly every state connect live with NFL icons to talk about character, integrity, and perseverance. What began as a local field trip program has become a global platform for teaching leadership and belonging.

Jerry reveals how distance learning expands access to stories that inspire—stories that remind students that greatness isn’t about fame or stats, but about resilience, teamwork, and heart.

Listeners will learn:
  • How the Pro Football Hall of Fame uses live virtual programs to teach life values through sports.
  • Why distance learning is about access—to people, perspectives, and purpose.
  • How technology transformed the Hall of Fame’s programs from local field trips to global connections.
  • What makes stories of perseverance and leadership so powerful when shared directly by the legends who lived them.
If you believe distance learning can only go so far, Jerry Csaki’s story will expand your definition of what’s possible when technology connects classrooms to character.

Episode Links
Host Links
  • Explore virtual learning resources and programs at CILC.org with Tami Moehring and Allyson Mitchell
  • Discover global learning experiences at Banyan Global Learning with Seth Fleischauer
Want to help us reshape distance learning?
Share this episode with a colleague, reflect on your own “why,” and remember: the power of distance learning lies in the connections it creates—between students, stories, and the human spirit.

Creators and Guests

Host
Allyson Mitchell
SF
Host
Seth Fleischauer
TM
Host
Tami Moehring

What is Why Distance Learning??

The Why Distance Learning? Podcast explores the transformative power of live virtual learning and its role in shaping the future of education. Hosted by three seasoned distance learning experts, this podcast delivers insights, promising practices, and inspiration for educators, content providers, and education leaders integrating live virtual experiences into teaching and learning. Each episode features interviews with content creators, industry professionals, field experts, and innovative educators who are driving engagement, equity, and innovation through distance learning. By challenging common perceptions and uncovering the realities of live virtual education, Why Distance Learning highlights its true impact and explores how it continues to evolve in an ever-changing educational landscape.

Hosted by Seth Fleischauer of Banyan Global Learning and Allyson Mitchell and Tami Moehring of the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration.