Improving Your College Courses

“This timely book is the equivalent of the pedagogical Rosetta Stone, only instead of being in hieroglyphics, demotic, and Greek, it translates lecture, blackboard, and technology into the emerging dynamic language of the new pedagogy with AI. Just as the real Rosetta Stone connected an ancient past to the present, Improving Your College Courses: A Guide for Engaging in Digital Learning, edited by Carol A. Mullen and Daniel W. Eadens, sweeps across past instructional concepts and languages, illustrating the arrival and application of an exciting new idiom of digital learning. We owe them and their collaborators encomium for their efforts.”

Fenwick W. English, PhD, Professor of Educational Leadership and Associate Dean, College of Education, Florida Gulf Cost University, Florida, and Co-editor, Leading & Managing journal

“Improving Your College Courses is timely, essential reading. At a moment when technology offers the promise of greater collaboration as well as the threats of decreased engagement and increased isolation, this collection reminds us that intentional, human-centered wisdom must guide learning. With chapters rooted in care, andragogy, and innovative practice, Mullen and Eadens’ edited collection offers powerful insights into fostering engagement, equity, and ethical practice in today’s technologically saturated educational environments.”

Michelle D. Young, PhD, Dean and Professor of the Berkeley School of Education, University of California, Berkeley, California

“Mullen and Eadens’ edited book Improving Your College Courses is a timely, research-informed, highly practical resource for any faculty member tasked with teaching online. The experienced faculty contributors provide a rich blend of theory, practical strategies, and insights that support inclusive, engaging, and ethically sound instruction, as well as important reflection points regarding instructional innovation and maintaining quality within various digital modalities. Whether you’re new to online teaching or looking to refine your digital pedagogy, this book is an invaluable companion for designing meaningful learning experiences that meet the evolving needs of higher education.”

J. Kenneth Young, PhD, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, Lamar University, Texas, and Editor, Education Leadership Review journal

“Improving Your College Courses is an essential read for today’s higher education faculty. Mullen and Eadens curate a collection that is both visionary and practical, grounding their work in research, yet ensuring accessibility and applicability for educators navigating the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Each chapter reflects a commitment to human-centered, ethical, and innovative teaching. This book not only offers insights for improving courses, it also reimagines what quality, engagement, and equity can mean in an age of digital learning.”

Charles L. Lowery, EdD, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, Virginia Tech, Virginia

“This is a timely, practical guide for faculty seeking to enhance digital learning. Edited by Mullen and Eadens, Improving Your College Courses blends research-based strategies with actionable tools to improve course quality, foster engagement, and integrate ethical AI use. Covering quality assurance, simulation, and cognitive engagement, this book empowers educators to create inclusive, innovative, and high-impact learning experiences in today’s evolving educational landscape.”

Naim Kapucu, PhD, Pegasus Professor and Associate Dean of Research and Innovation, University of Central Florida, Florida

Acknowledgements

Foreword
Köksal Banoğlu

Introduction: Guidebook in a Snap
Carol A. Mullen, Daniel W. Eadens, and Köksal Banoğlu

PART 1: QUALITY IN COURSES

Chapter 1
Quality Course Enhancements Impacting Executive-Level Student Learning and Outcomes
Daniel W. Eadens and Carol A. Mullen

Chapter 2
Artful Digital Learning: The Use of Song Parodies for a More Qualitative Experience
Natalie Norman Michaels

PART 2: SIMULATION IN COURSES

Chapter 3
Using Simulation Technology to Enhance Educators’ Skills and Knowledge: Learning Through Mixed Reality Experiences
Krista Bixler and Marjorie Ceballo

Chapter 4
Computer Simulations Toward Educational Leadership Transformation: Preparing Future Administrators for Real-World Challenges
Greg Harrison and Lee Westberry

PART 3: COGNITION IN COURSES

Chapter 5
Cognitive Vulnerability and AI Use in Digital Learning: Applying the Zone of Proximal Knowledge
Christopher Benedetti

Chapter 6
Virtual Spaces for Critical Dialogue: Promoting Social Interaction and Cognitive Engagement in Higher Education Courses
Marcus L. Johnson

Chapter 7
Conclusion
Daniel W. Eadens and Carol A. Mullen

About the Editors and Contributors

Index

NOTE: Table of Contents subject to change up until publication date.

Carol A. Mullen

Carol A. Mullen, PhD, is Professor of Educational Leadership at Virginia Tech, Virginia, USA, and a Fulbright Senior Scholar alumnus. She researches mentoring, equity/justice, and policy topics, with articles published in such journals as American Journal of Distance Education, International Journal of Mentoring & Coaching in Education, Journal of Further and Higher Education, Journal of Research on Leadership Education, Mentoring & Tutoring, and Policy Futures in Education. Her recent books include Equity in School Mentoring and Induction (2025) and Handbook of Social Justice Interventions in Education (2021, edited). She is past president of University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA), Society of Professors of Education, and International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership (ICPEL). At two universities, she served as department chair, associate dean, and School of Education director. She has received many (inter)national awards, including the Jay D. Scribner Mentoring Award and Master Professor Award (UCEA), Living Legend Award (ICPEL), and the Mary Anne Raywid Award (SPE). Virginia Tech’s recognitions include the XCaliber Award for Excellence in Technology Assisted Teaching and Learning for innovative use of technology for improving student learning, in addition to the Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship Award (twice awarded), the Alumni Award for Excellence in International Research, and the Alumni Award for Research Excellence. Her alma mater, the University of Toronto, honored her with the Leaders and Legends Excellence Award. She has authored/edited 29 books, 250 journal articles and chapters in others’ books, and 18 guest-edited issues of journals. Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_A._Mullen; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-mullen-8b1aab288

Daniel W. Eadens

Dr. Daniel W. Eadens is an accomplished scholar, decorated military officer, and dedicated educator whose career spans K–12 classrooms, university leadership, and global service. He currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Higher Education within the College of Community Innovation and Education at the University of Central Florida, where he previously coordinated academic programs and contributed to strategic departmental growth. Before joining UCF, Dr. Eadens held multiple leadership roles at Northern Arizona University (NAU), including Assistant Department Chair, Study Abroad Coordinator, and tenured Associate Professor of Educational Leadership. His early career in Florida’s public schools included roles as an elementary and special education teacher, behavior specialist, and school administrator―experiences that continue to inform his commitment to preparing effective, equity-driven school leaders. Dr. Eadens is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, where he served honorably for 25 years in Civil Affairs. His military service included deployments to Japan, Puerto Rico, Kuwait, Qatar, and Iraq (combat). He earned his B.S. in Education, M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of South Florida. His research focuses on critical issues in educational leadership, including school safety, social justice, school finance, and administrator preparation and evaluation. He co-edited Social Justice Instruction: Empowerment on the Chalkboard (Papa, Eadens, & Eadens, 2016), and remains an active scholar and contributor to the field. Dr. Eadens was named a Faculty Research Fellow, Excellence in Educational Leadership Award, and received a Global Impact Award. Dr. Eadens brings scholar-leader experience essential to imparting his commitment to advancing educational leadership seamlessly through teaching, research, and service.