Indiana educators recognized for innovative teaching and instructional support at IPSE's 2004 All Partners Conference

Released: April 14, 2004
Contact: Sarah Toney, 317.263.8846, stoney@ihets.org

INDIANAPOLIS—Six Indiana educators were acknowledged for their outstanding accomplishments in using technology to enhance teaching and learning at the annual All Partners Conference, held by the Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System (IHETS). IHETS is a consortium of all public and private higher education institutions in Indiana.

The awards were sponsored by the Indiana Partnership for Statewide Education (IPSE), the primary leadership committee within the IHETS consortium focusing on program delivery and facilitation of e-Learning courses and programs. Each recipient received a plaque and a cash award for further professional development.

“We are grateful to all of those who further the use of technology in education. The award-winners this year exemplify the best and brightest in instructive innovation,” said Dave King, executive director at IHETS. “Thanks to efforts like these, we can be assured that e-learning in Indiana is and will remain amongst the best in our country.”

Twenty-five nominations in three categories were received from colleges and universities throughout the state. After careful consideration, five individuals were selected.

In the award category of Teaching with Technology in a Distance Education Program, one winner was selected:

Dr. Robert Bill, an Associate Professor with the School of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University—Dr. Bill has received twenty-four awards in the last seventeen years for his contributions to student instruction. He launched and is currently the head of a completely on-line undergraduate curriculum, the Vet Tech program, which is the first of its kind at Purdue University. Bill also developed and implemented a documentation model which allows for the evaluation of 200 discrete motor skills in order to ascertain the progress of students enrolled via distance education. This model is now used by the American Veterinary Medical Association to evaluate all Veterinary Technology programs delivered via distance education technologies.

In the award category of Teaching with Technology on Campus, one winner was selected:

Dr. Petronio Bendito, Assistant Professor of Visual Communications Design at Purdue University—Dr. Bendito received the Braden-Beauchamp Visual Literacy Award from the International Visual Literary Association for his article “Teaching Interactive Multimedia Design from a Visual Communication Standpoint: Curriculum and Assessment Strategies.” He also received a first place prize at the 2003 Interactive Digital Environments, Art & Storytelling Festival for his Web site, “Motionary: Meaning in Motion,” which illustrates a new teaching method combining Linguistic Theory, Motion Design, and Typography. Bendito has expanded his involvement in the learning community to reach outside of his classroom. Bendito recently engaged his students in the development of an educational Web site which teaches children about the CityBus transportation system in Greater Lafayette.

And in the award category of Support for Online Teaching and Learning, two nominees were chosen to share the honors and prize money:

Elizabeth Kiggins from the University of Indianapolis and a three-person team including Dr. Charles Harrington, Dr. Karen Bonnell, and Dr. Saxon Reasons from the University of Southern Indiana are the winners in this category for 2004.

Beth Kiggins, Director of the Center for Instructional Technologies at the University of Indianapolis, is a leader for the faculty in adopting and implementing new technology. Through her efforts with the Blackboard course management system the University of Indianapolis was selected as one of the few inaugural members of the Blackboard Certified Education Center Program. Kiggins has recently worked with several new technologies including student use of PDA's, infrared devices for student feedback, and an electronic portfolio program for student teachers. Kiggins also serves as a member of the IPSE Faculty Services team and is active in planning conferences and statewide workshops for the promotion of technology and learning.

The IPSE Awards program opens nominations up to team nominations in order to allow for those contributions made by collaborative efforts. Dr. Charles Harrington, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Karen Bonnell, Director of Instructional Technology Services, and Dr. Saxon Reasons, Programming Manager for Instructional Technology all from the University of Southern Indiana were jointly nominated in this category for their development of a comprehensive system which facilitates student evaluation of distance education courses. This team looked at the issues with pencil and paper evaluations for distance education and the needs involved from faculty, departments and deans. They then evaluated the commercial solutions available and found that their best option was to build an original evaluation system. The new Web-based system allows for over 90 questions, both quantitative and qualitative. It has been used to date in the enrollment of more than 1,200 students and has been recognized at state, regional, and national conferences for its importance.

IHETS is an integral part of the rapidly evolving telecommunications and educational technology environment in Indiana. Its mission is to facilitate higher education in Indiana by working with K-12 schools, public libraries, public broadcasting stations and other identified education and information providers and by encouraging the use of telecommunications and information technology to further the education of the State of Indiana as a whole.

For additional information about the awards, visit: www.ihets.org/progserv/education/ipse_awards/index.html

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