Innovative Use of Technology in the Face-to-Face and Online Classroom

The Excellence in Education (EIE) Award: Innovative Use of Technology in the Face-to-Face and Online Classroom provides individuals or teams an opportunity to showcase their use of a technology-based idea, tool, or process created for direct use in the classroom or online. The submission must demonstrate a heavy use of technology as well as a connection with student success.

Examples

• Use of Shared Learning Content - Presentations, simulations, lab software, lab activities, web support for classes, and other uses of technology which may have been developed at one college, but are currently being used by more than one Virginia community college. They are made available to all (Virginia Community College System) VCCS faculty for use in their courses.
• Innovative Use of Technology in Education - Increased or innovative uses of some form of technology in any area of teaching.
• Distance Learning, Online or Virtual Learning Technology - Innovative use or adaptation of instructional technology and/or alternative pedagogy.in an online learning environment. This category applies to online courses, certificate programs, or Associates degree programs.

Judging Criteria

The following criteria will be rated on a scale from 1 to 5.

(1 = needs improvement; 2 = fair; 3 = good; 4 = very good; 5 = excellent; NA = not applicable)

• Describing the process, procedure, or policy, including: 1) the connection to Achieve 2015, 2) the creative, “out-of-the-box” nature of the project, and 3) the project’s connection to sound educational practices and processes. 
• Describing applicability of the project, including: 1) its “user-friendliness,” 2) transferability across disciplines, units, and institutions, and 3) viability over time. 
• Describing the impact of the project, including how it makes teaching and learning more effective with particular student groups.
• Presenting effectively at the EIE Awards reception.

Eligibility

• Individuals or teams of VCCS part-time or full-time faculty, staff, and administrators.

Submissions

Self-nominations for individuals or teams for the EIE Award: Innovative Use of Technology in the Face-to-Face and Online Classroom will be accepted through close of business Monday, November 28, 2011. Finalists will be notified by Tuesday, December 20, 2011. Finalists will have until Friday, January 6, 2012 to confirm their acceptance.

• Multiple nominees for a single project are asked to make their submission together. At this point, they are nominees.
• Out of the nominees, finalists will be selected to present their project at the Excellence in Education Awards judging from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012, in the Crystal Ballroom, Hotel Roanoke.
• In addition to the above presentation, EIE finalists are required to create a PowerPoint presentation of their project that touches on the four project criteria questions asked in the EIE Submission Form. Finalists may choose to use this PowerPoint as part of their presentation stated above.

PowerPoint Presentation Requirements

• Your presentation should be in Microsoft PowerPoint format, self-running, and a maximum of 3 minutes in length. Your PowerPoint may include video clips and audio; if video or audio clips are used (other than PowerPoint’s built-in narration), make sure to submit all associated files along with the PowerPoint file, preferably combined in a Zip file. Test your presentation on a computer other than the one that you create it on to make sure your audio and video run.
• The presentation submission will be shown at your project table, the Awards reception, for conference promotions, and the VCCS New Horizons iTunes University website.
• Presentations that are not in the allotted format and time will not be viewed by the judges, used onsite, nor used in follow-up New Horizons activities.
• Email Greg Cook from BRCC with your PowerPoint presentation by Friday, February 10, 2012. 

Technical Assistance

• Finalists may email Greg Cook from BRCC with any technical questions regarding their PowerPoint presentation.
• Finalists are required to register for and attend the conference.
• Winners will be determined among the finalists and will be announced at the awards banquet on Thursday, March 22, 2012. The college of the winning project will receive $300. The 1st Runner-up will receive a $200 award. If multiple colleges are involved, the purse will be split between the colleges. Both awards may be used by the college(s) for travel, hardware, software, or other expenses to support the project. Each project participant will receive a certificate.

** The EIE Award Submission Form is Now Closed. Finalists will be posted soon.**