The old image of a student at home trudging through text-only PowerPoints for their online class is fading as talented learning designers and faculty work together to reimagine the online learning space. The USF Innovation in Online Design and Teaching awards were created to recognize innovative online educators and their student-centered online courses.
The second annual Innovation in Online Design and Teaching awards recognize exceptional online teaching practices and significant contributions to the design, development, and delivery of student-centered online teaching and learning. Three instructors will be selected for recognition after the January 29, 2024 application deadline. To apply and see full details of the submission guidelines, visit the award webpage.
This year’s first-place award includes $5,000, an award plaque, and recognition at the Faculty Honors and Awards Reception hosted by the Office of the Provost. The winner will also have the opportunity to present at the TOPkit Workshop or Innovation Summit in 2025. Two finalists will receive $1,000 each.
Candidates are asked to show evidence of sustained excellence and innovation in online teaching practices that support student engagement, student learning gains, and student satisfaction and demonstrate the impact of well-designed, high-quality digital course materials. This is accomplished through various application materials, including an online course tour video, online teaching statement, and a letter of support, among other components.
What Bumped Last Year’s Finalists to Top of the Class?
- Finalist: Margarita Altuna uses ChatGPT and augmented reality as tools for her online
Spanish III course, in addition to a virtual
exchange program between her USF students and those studying in Mexico’s Universidad Marista de Mérida. Altuna’s students get to speak Spanish with native Spanish speakers, and then UMM students get to practice their English with Altuna’s USF students. They get the real-world, cross-cultural experience without the cost of a flight. - Finalist: Loran Jarrett’s digital marketing students are learning branding and automation
through both gamification and real-worldpractice. One of the assignments her students
complete is a front-and-back-end web design project that many have added to their
portfolios to earn marketing jobs. She makes sure her students learn both the aesthetic
and technological components of web design so that they can be effective professionals
on all levels.
- Winner: Sanghoon Park uses a creative combination of gamification, ChatGPT, augmented reality and the metaverse to achieve aunique learning space. He is an associate professor who teaches graduate courses related to instructional technology and effective instructional design, so it was especially important for him to get creative with his pedagogy because his students will be asked about these tools in future job interviews.
Who Should Apply?
Candidates for the Online Design and Teaching awards must be full-time continuing faculty (including instructors) on any of the USF campuses who have developed and taught at least one fully online course that has achieved a high-quality designation during the past two academic years. Applicants must also be certified to teach online through any USF online instructor certification program. Previous award winners and visiting faculty are not eligible. Applications will be accepted no later than January 29, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
Please visit the webpage for more information about the Innovation in Online Design and Teaching awards and to submit an application.
Check out this video from last year's winner: