Kiggins’ energy, knowledge and interest in supporting technology integration have transformed the nature of instruction at the University of Indianapolis. Her influence has spread to other Indiana higher education institutions and nationally through her conferences on distance learning and technology integration into the curriculum.

Consistently demonstrates innovation and creativity in the development and implementation of programs and services that directly and effectively support online teaching and learning.

Elizabeth founded the CIT in 1997 with a Lilly Foundation grant. Since then Elizabeth has provided exemplary support to faculty wanting to pursue distance learning initiatives and/or integrate technology into teaching. She chairs a small department, yet is able to passionately support new initiatives.

Elizabeth was one of the first in the nation to recognize Blackboard value in the delivery of online instruction. Through her efforts Blackboard has been used on our campus since the fall of 1998. To date, approximately 75% of full-time University faculty use Bb.

Elizabeth continues to pursue new initiatives to support DL initiatives and the integration of technology into teaching using sound pedagogical principles. She has provided numerous learning opportunities not only for university faculty but for members of several ICI institutions. She is widely recognized around the state for her initiatives. Curt Bonk, in an e-mail said, “Congrats on taking a leadership role in this state. I am hearing your name a lot recently and the U of I as well.” She meets regularly one-on-one with faculty and is well respected by peers as they routinely consult her.

She enthusiastically supports use of video conferencing as a DL medium. Her initiative to offer dual-credit classes with the Vision Athena system (in its fifth year) has proven to be extremely beneficial. She is responsible for the recent integration of this technology as a component of the Computer Applications for Educators course and has cooperated with Teacher Education Department faculty to develop a DL certification for pre-service and practicing teachers using this technology.

Recognized as a leader in supporting the innovative use of technology at the college, campus, system and/or national level
She is working with the Teacher Education Department on a program to deploy PDA’s to be used in assessment of teacher candidates at the Entrance to Program stage and in supervision of student teachers. This program involves software evaluation and PDA training.

Elizabeth has been instrumental on a collaborative project with the School of OT to study the use of PDAs for home-based assessment of the elderly.

Recently she acquired a Classroom Performance System. This IR student response system allows students to use IR devices to respond to questions, take tests, and indicate level of understanding in a non-threatening manner. She is working with several departments to pilot use of the CPS.

Responsible for the development and implementation of college-, campus-, or system-level programs and services that have had a positive impact on a significant number of faculty.

Approximately 75% of our full time faculty use Blackboard. Blackboard is used not only as a course management tool but also as a means for committees and other groups to form meaningful “communities” of sharing/working.

Another initiative involves the development of electronic portfolios for student teachers. The plan is for this voluntary pilot program in the Department of Teacher Education to develop to a point where all student teachers will complete a digital, reflective, INTASC standards portfolio. Using strong design principles, the students are able to create a student teaching portfolio that is delivered via CD-ROM. Beth has been extremely instrumental and influential in her support of this project.

Kiggins received a $24,000 grant from Premier-Programming on behalf of the university to test assistive technology software across the campus.

Actively promotes effective and innovative practices in instructional support at the college, campus, and/or national level through activities such as publication, presentation at conferences and workshops, mentoring programs, professional service activities, and/or committee work

Elizabeth’s influence extends far beyond the limits of our campus.

• In Spring, 1998 invited Blackboard representatives to campus to meet with our faculty and private and state college representatives (BSU, ISU, USI and several ICI members attended). Several of these later adopted Blackboard.
• In 2000 hosted Indiana Blackboard Day. More than 80 attended, representing thirteen Indiana private, six state colleges, ICI and IHETS staff.
• Championed U of I becoming a Blackboard Certified Education Center, one of only six higher education CECs in the country.
• Provided Web-based Teaching and Learning workshops for ICI institutions during three weeks in May, 2000. Fourteen different ICI schools were represented with 110 participants.
• Educause 2001 (Indianapolis) hosted a Blackboard reception and breakout sessions as a pre-conference activity. Approximately 100 attended.
• Hosted 3-day Instructional Technology Conference: “Web-based Teaching and Learning” in May 2001. Keynote address by Dr. Rita Marie Conrad (FSU).
• Sponsored a “Technology Summit,” in August, 2003 that was attended by 23 of 31 ICI institutions approximately 200 attended.
• Has offered workshops and consulted for numerous ICI institutions.

Describe and/or provide links to any materials or evidence that supports your nomination of this person (300 words or less).

Kiggins is an enthusiastic proponent of the integration of technology into teaching to support learning. Rather than merely promoting the technology, she also demonstrates best practices through her use of various technologies. For example, she recently developed a CD-ROM titled “Introduction to Computing.” The narrated, interactive CD-ROM was created to accompany a course she developed for adults who have little, if any, previous computer experience. Students using the CD appreciate its interactive capability and their ability to repeat lessons covering material that may be less familiar to them. In addition, she has taught several courses via the Web.

She is widely recognized for her use of technology to support instruction. In 2002 the Center for Instructional Technologies was recognized as one of four Blackboard Certified Education Centers.

Elizabeth has been a speaker at national conferences regarding the use of technology to support instruction. Recent presentations include those at the University of Wisconsin’s Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning, Syllabus, Blackboard User’s Conference, Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education, Association of Small Computer Users in Education and the Council of Independent Colleges.

She frequently consults with colleagues from other independent colleges recounting her experiences developing faculty workshops. Two years ago she received a $10,000 grant from the Ameritech Partnership to develop a Teaching and Learning Conference for faculty from the Independent Colleges of Indiana.

Elizabeth is a passionate advocate for the integration of technology to support teaching and learning. Rather than merely promoting technology for technology’s sake, she finds ways to solve teaching and learning problems through the use of technology. Her work with U of I faculty and faculty from across the state and nation are commendable. She is a widely respected member of the teaching and learning community.