In this episode, host Kelsey Peterson sits down with Bethany Becknell, Director of Online Learning and Student Success at Oklahoma Christian University, to explore what it really looks like to move from K12 teaching into leading online programs in higher education. Bethany shares her journey from 9th-10th grade English teacher to doctoral student to online learning leader and how being an adult learner herself fundamentally shaped the way she now designs for working adults.

From unpacking the core differences between teaching adolescents and adults, to rethinking what actually works in an online course. Bethany reflects on structure, flexibility, and the power of lived experience in adult learning. She also gets candid about AI: her concerns, her excitement, and the very real ethical questions she’s asking as both an educator and a parent.

Bethany walks through how her team moved from a restrictive “no AI” stance to a cautious, permissive policy that treats AI as a learning partner rather than a shortcut. She shares practical examples, including using generative AI to simulate high-stakes parent-teacher conferences and to give future educators safe spaces to practice, reflect, and build confidence before they’re in the room with real families.

Key Moments

00:03 From High School English to Online Higher Ed

03:16 Kids vs. Adults: How Learning Really Differs

07:23 Why Copy-Paste Lectures Fail Online

11:18 Flipped Learning & On-the-Job Application

17:48 When Your Teen Uses AI for Homework

21:25 Shifting from “No AI” to Cautious Use

28:54 Practicing Parent–Teacher Conferences with AI

31:53 Will AI Be Everywhere in 5 Years?

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

If you’re working at the intersection of online learning, adult education, and AI, this conversation gives you both language and tactics for what comes next. A grounded, honest look at the emotional side of adult learners (“Am I smart enough?”) and how course design can either amplify or reduce that anxiety.Concrete examples of transforming “lecture-heavy” courses into interactive, feedback-rich experiences that better fit online formats.A nuanced take on generative AI that neither panics nor hand-waves: specific misuses to watch for, and assignments that intentionally leverage AI for practice and reflection.

Connect with Bethany Becknell
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-becknell-93698320a
Website:https://www.oc.edu/

Follow Us On

Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-peterson-b80171142/

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyronlearning/

Company Website: https://www.kyronlearning.com/

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