2010–2012 Nominees and Winners
Winner - Excellence in Curricular Innovation Using Technology
Michael Kanters
Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management
Michael Kanters, associate professor on the department of parks, recreation, and tourism management, received this award for his leadership in the development of the online Professional Master's degree program in Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sport Management (online MPRTM). This degree, designed for working professionals, is a 2 year program following the cohort model. The program is on track to graduate 27 of 30 students from the first cohort (of Spring 2011) which is an unprecedented success rate for an online degree program. Dr. Kanter's vision for the development of the online MPRTM – from the technology needs, to training faculty for online course delivery, to web design and student orientation – is largely responsible for the early success of this degree program.
Winner - Innovative Excellence in Teaching and Learning with Technology
Shawn Dunning
Information Technology & Textile Engineering Chemistry and Science
Jon Rust
Textile Engineering
Shawn Dunning, assistant dean for Information Technology and adjunct lecturer for Textile Engineering Chemistry and Science, and Jon Rust, department head and professor of Textile Engineering, received an award for the distance education version of Introduction to Fiber Sciences. This course effectively integrates multiple technologies including: Livescribe recordings of calculations, engaging animations, the MicroExplorer 3D and the Virtual Viewer digital microscope tool, which allows side-by-side comparison of various fibers. The class also incorporates self-assessments, case studies, quizzes and instructional videos that students can use to teach themselves critical parts of fiber identification. By using media to better demonstrate detailed processes and successfully combining a lecture and a lab into a single distance education course, Dunning and Rust have created a highly interactive and engaging course.
Winner – Innovative Excellence in Teaching and Learning with Technology
Joan Eisemann
Animal Science
Sung Woo Kim
Animal Science
Joan Eisemann (pictured), professor in CALS, and Sung Woo Kim (not pictured), associate professor in CALS, received an award for their course, a distance education of The Nutrition of Domestic Animals. The faculty subject matter experts collaborated to ensure all essential content was included in each of the course's topics. This course implements fascinating animations of challenging concepts like protein digestion and synthesis, which clearly shows a keen awareness of the most challenging topics for students. Camtasia presentations, Moodle books and self quizzes help students gain a firm grasp of the course material and a realistic assessment of their own learning.
In the photograph above, only Joan Eisemann is accepting the award for the course. Sung Woo Kim was unable to attend the ceremony.
Winner – Innovative Excellence in Teaching and Learning with Technology
Deena Murphy
College of Humanities and Social Studies
Deena Murphy is an Instructor at the College of Management and an Instructional and Teaching professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. She was presented with the Gertrude Cox Award for her work on the distance education version of Women and Gender in Science and Technology. In this course, students explore how the social, economic, and institutional practices of scientific and technological research are shaped by the presence and absence of women. The incorporation of Moodle forums, Voice Thread, and Elluminate all helped build active student participation and engagement. The course discussions and readings are enriched by a collection of guest lectures, films, interactive learning objects, and a Vuvox interactive timeline of the women who changed science. The combination of methods of delivery and discussion seemed to generate a great deal of excitement from students based on the highly trafficked forums.
Winner – Innovative Excellence in Teaching and Learning with Technology
David Tarpy
Entomology
David Tarpy, associate professor and extension apiculturist in the department of entomology, received the Gertrude Cox award for his work on ENT 401: Honey Bee Biology and Management, an upper-level, DE course which focuses on the biology of honey bees and an introduction to beekeeping. Students focus on the honey bee life history, development, and behavior to understand how colonies function. Inherent to the structure of this course is the Life Cycle Management Interactive Tool. This online interactive experience provides students with an in-hive, hands-on perspective through various demonstration videos, self-evaluation tools, and interactive exercises. The module is structured around the annual life cycle of a honey bee colony and the various management practices beekeepers employ throughout the season. Thanks to the non-linear and interactive attributes of the tool, students can participate at their own pace, enter the cycle at various points, and incorporate content gleaned from other course lectures and materials.
Gertrude Cox Award Nominees
Laura Clarke
Physics
Keith Weninger
Physics
Laura Clarke and Keith Weninger, associate professors in the physics department, were nominated for their online PY 581-582 Matter and Interactions for Teachers course. This course teaches physics from a modern, relativistic, atomic viewpoint. Reasoning and applications are developed from a small set of fundamental principles. The curriculum and pedagogy are based on physics education research-based strategies. This type of course is particularly useful for in-service teachers because it forces them to rethink the basis for their understanding of physics. The course features integrated homework and laboratory experiences. The PY 582 students purchase a kit with simple electronic equipment with which they conduct experiments. These desktop labs alternate with the students constructing Vpython-based computer physics simulations.
Maria Gallardo-Williams
Chemistry
Lori Petrovich
Chemistry
Charles Hardin, associate professor of biochemistry, was nominated for his work developing the textbook Essential Biochemical Concepts in order to achieve very high throughput training of our under-graduate biochemistry students in the core introductory courses BCH 451 and BCH 351.The training manual holds a central role in the process. Firstly, it is used as the basis of the course graphics for lectures, which are supplemented by extensive whiteboard information and occasional web-based animations that illustrate dynamic and structural details of specific processes. Secondly, the manual contains a complete set of review lessons and test-training materials. This manual focuses the content of the subject, so that students can understand clearly where they should place their focus. This greatly facilitates their efforts to learn the material, instead of wasting their time guessing what they have to learn.
James Harper
Entomology
James Harper, professor emeritus of entomology, was nominated for his work with DELTA on an IDEA Grant to design and develop a new distance education course, Insects and Human Disease (ENT 207). This course serves as an introduction to the many interactions between insects, other arthropods and humans that result in disease, ranging from simple anxiety, phobias, discomfort and pain, to transmission of pathogenic organisms causing sickness and even death. These topics are presented using an introductory questionnaire in Google forms, Moodle Books, narrated presentations (Articulate Presenter/Articulate Engage Interactions), flashcards and video interviews of local experts.
Laura Linker
English
Laura Linker, professor of English, was nominated for English 251, Major British Writers, which not only encourages students to learn and apply knowledge about the texts and literary terminology for tests and assignments, but more importantly to understand the cultural, social, and historical contexts that inform the works. In order to fulfill these goals, this course invited students to consider writers, texts, and literary and historical periods through multiple interpretative angles and technological mediums. These included an interactive timeline of periods, works, and authors; numerous richly illustrated and dynamically voiced narrated presentations; a guided tour of the Globe Theater via Second Life; and an innovative map of 17th century London, which students could annotate with the literary, cultural, and historical sites of early London as well as the modern aspects of 21st century London.
Frederick Parker
Agricultural and Resource Economics
Fredrick Parker, assistant professor for agricultural and resource economics, was nominated for his work on the distance education version of ARE 345 - Global Agribusiness Management. This course uses technology including: recorded lectures, overheads with LecShare Pro audio, and links to web sites, articles and other course materials through Moodle. Students praised Dr. Parker's careful and effective use of technology as a means of teaching students, rather than overwhelming them. For example, while technology is available to make face-to-face meetings with students unnecessary, one assignment specifically requires bringing students to his office (or discussion by phone) on a one-on-one basis. Students complimented this as a highly appreciated extra step to make a high-technology DE course more personal, and increase the connection between teacher and students.
Kay Sandberg
Chemistry
Kay Sandberg, associate teaching professor for general and organic chemistry, was nominated for her work developing 3 modes of instruction for the service section organic Chemistry courses. These courses incorporate activities which engage students both in and out of class.
- Mode 1) The inquiry-based sections of CH221 and CH223 are taught in the SCALE-UP classroom on campus They engage students in immediate inquiry and application-based activities correlated and interspersed with lectures.
- Mode 2) The traditional sections of CH221 and CH223 are taught in the large lecture halls. Within the class period "clicker" questions are asked to keep students engaged and focused.
- Mode 3) The distance education sections of CH221 and CH223 have interactive presentations that students watch. Questions are posed throughout the presentations which students submit answers to electronically for grading, which provides immediate feedback. The students seek guidance and give guidance through the course forum.
Karen Tharrington
Foreign Languages & Literatures
Karen Tharrington was nominated for her work redesigning FLS 102 - Beginning Spanish which utilizes Moodle to the fullest extent. This course aims to provide an online experience that mirrors the traditional classroom. This course is separated into five learning modules in the form of Moodle "books." Each module has been redesigned with colorful icons consistent throughout to help students identify learning tasks to be completed. Newly designed interactive lectures were recorded using Camtasia. All chapter tests, quizzes, and the final exam are collected through Moodle. Navigation has been updated so that information can be located quickly and without excessive clicking. Popular quick links have been added to the main Moodle page, giving students access to their textbook and other pertinent Spanish language sites.
View nominations for 2010–2012