Owl Talk
A Rice Digital Learning and Strategy Podcast
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Episode 6: The Energy Behind Impactful Teaching
How Jimmy DeNicco Makes Economics Come Alive
What makes a teacher memorable? For Dr. James “Jimmy” DeNicco, it starts with energy, but it also takes compassion, organization and a deep commitment to helping students learn.
In this episode of Owl Talk, host Dr. Daniel Villanueva, Jr. speaks with Dr. DeNicco, associate teaching professor of economics, director of the Principles of Economics Program and director of undergraduate studies at Rice University. Jimmy reflects on the path that led him to economics and teaching, the humor and real-life stories that make his courses distinctive, and the collaboration required to bring that same presence to online learners.
The conversation explores how work with the Rice Digital Learning team helped Jimmy develop a rich set of online resources and use them more intentionally in his Rice classroom. He also discusses feedback from Coursera learners around the world, the evolving challenge of AI and academic integrity, and what he hopes students carry with them long after a course ends.
Episode 5: Beyond Tradition
How Innovation is Reshaping Higher Education
Should universities preserve knowledge like museums or experiment like startups? In this episode of Owl Talk, host Dr. Daniel Villanueva, Jr. speaks with Dr. Caroline Levander, vice president for global strategy, Carlson Professor in the Humanities and professor in English at Rice University, about the tension - and opportunity - between those two models.
Drawing on her book, Invent Ed: How an American Tradition of Innovation Can Transform College Today, Levander explores how universities can pair disciplinary depth with creativity, interdisciplinary learning and a willingness to experiment. She also reflects on her foundational role in building Rice Online Learning, from Rice's early MOOCs and online-learning policy to the development of online graduate programs.
The conversation considers what faculty, leaders, students and families can do to make higher education more inventive, communicate its value and prepare learners for meaningful careers over time.
Episode 4: Metacognition for Students
How to Learn Better and Study Smarter
In this episode of Owl Talk, host Daniel Villanueva sits down with Vamsi Makineni, a senior philosophy student at Rice University, to trace how a personal interest in learning science became a one-credit course, then a Coursera course available to anyone with internet access. Vamsi co-created the course with physics professor Dr. Jared Stenson and the Rice Digital Learning team, covering metacognition strategies including chunking, mind mapping, and spaced retrieval practice. The conversation also explores how AI fits into learning — and where it falls short when students offload too much thinking.
Episode 3: Behind the Build
How Instructional Design Powers Online Education
In this episode of Owl Talk, host Daniel Villanueva sits down with Seth Tyger, senior course designer and team lead at Rice Digital Learning, to explore how instructional design shapes effective online learning. From aligning learning objectives, activities and assessments to building for accessibility, micro-lectures and a seamless studio-to-classroom production workflow, they discuss the practical strategies that help online courses teach clearly—and stick.
Episode 2: Google AI in Rice Classrooms
Gemini, Notebook LM, and Smarter Support for Students
In this episode of Owl Talk, host Daniel Villanueva sits down with Drew Seidel, head of North America, Google Workspace for Education, to explore how tools like Gemini for Education and NotebookLM are already supporting Rice students, faculty and staff in the classroom. From secure AI workspaces to smarter study support, they dig into what this partnership means for day-to-day teaching and learning at Rice—and where AI in education is headed next.
Episode 1 : Beyond the Hype
How AI is Reshaping Higher Education
This episode also highlights Kicking off Owl Talk, we sit down with Kathleen Perley, AI advisor and lecturer at Rice Business, to clarify what AI can do in teaching and learning and where its limits are. We discuss concrete ways to ease faculty workload, uphold academic integrity, personalize learning, and responsible use. This episode also highlights Teaching with AI at Rice: From Curiosity to Confidence , a Canvas course for Rice faculty taught by Kathleen Perley with the support of the Rice Digital Learning course design and video production team.
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Host
Join our host Dr. Daniel Villanueva as he dives into compelling conversations with experts, innovators, and change-makers across the digital learning sphere. With warmth, wit, and insight, he guides each episode to uncover fresh perspectives and spark meaningful dialogue.
📌 Get in Touch
To request to be featured on the podcast, please contact Dr. Daniel Villanueva at dv50@rice.edu.
About the Podcast
The Owl Talk podcast is a temporary series designed to highlight the new vision and expanded mission of Rice Digital Learning. Through a series of conversations with faculty, students, and staff, we explore how digital learning is evolving at Rice University and how it's being integrated into every aspect of the student experience.
Join us as we discuss new initiatives, innovative tools, and the future of education at Rice. This series is a key part of our effort to connect with the campus community and showcase how RDL is a partner in creating a more adaptable and inclusive learning environment.