Released: April 29, 2005
Contact: Susan Sullivan, 317.263.8849, ssulliva@ihets.org

INDIANAPOLIS—Five 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) at the University of Indianapolis on April 15. Each recipient received a plaque and a cash award for further professional development.

“We are pleased to recognize faculty who actively promote and further the use of technology in education. These individuals are among Indiana's best and brightest innovators in instructional technology and teaching,” reported Dave King, executive director at IHETS. “Thanks to their efforts Indiana is, and will remain, among the leading states in the U.S. engaged in e-learning.”

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

Teaching with technology in distance education

Two winners were selected in this category. Dr. Harry Hall, director of the online Masters of Education graduate education program at Indiana Wesleyan University, received the Award for Innovation and Leadership in the teaching with technology in a distance education program category. Hall was nominated for his work with Indiana Wesleyan’s online Masters of Education program, which currently enrolls more than 300 teachers, as well as his efforts in developing the program’s e-portfolio component. The program allows teachers from around the world to earn an online masters degree. Hall successfully developed asynchronous online discussion rooms that mirror onsite classroom programs and adapted classroom learning situations to the online format. The e-portfolio validates attainment of competencies to the state standards without adding significant technological training for students who use it. 

Dr. Mark Mabrito, associate professor of English in the English Department at Purdue University Calumet, was also recognized for teaching with technology in a distance education program. Mabrito was acknowledged for creating and teaching two online English classes, in business writing and technical writing. These courses are models for teaching online and for promoting student interaction in the online learning environment. Mabrito supports a problem-solving approach to teaching writing; students, in small groups and as a class, work through case studies collaboratively. To encourage this interaction, both synchronous and asynchronous discussion formats are applied. To further promote student exchange, his courses incorporate various custom scripts that allow students to share work, Web links, and respond to online journal assignments

Teaching with technology on campus

In this category, two winners were selected. Dr. Lonnie Lewellen, department chair for Design Technology at Ivy Tech State College Southern Indiana received theAward for Innovation and Leadership in the teaching with technology on campus category. Lewellen was nominated for his work merging modern technology with unique projects, giving students relevant work experience. A few of these projects include working with students to develop a presentation of a proposed new building for the Ivy Tech Southern Indiana campus, teaming his students with area high school students to create 3-D Solid Models with drawings, using advanced computer technology to design a monument and partk for the Town of Utica, and a project on behalf of the Indiana National Historical Society whereby students made design drawings and restoration recommendations that helped save the historic Mormon Hay Press Barn.

Dr. Laurie Mullen, associate professor for educational studies at Ball State University, was also recognized for teaching with technology on campus. Mullen was acknowledged for her work in instituting a new teacher education program at Ball State University. One of the components of this reform initiative was a web-based digital portfolio requirement for more than 4,000 teacher education majors. As the primary architect of this new program, Dr. Mullen secured external funding in the amount of $3 million to initiate the digital portfolio requirement. This effort not only brought uniformity to the technological requirements, but also positioned Ball State University as a national leader in the preparation of digital educators.

Online teaching and learning

Dr. Greg Siering, faculty development coordinator for the Office of Teaching and Learning at Ball State University, received the Award for Innovation and Leadership in the support for online teaching and learning category. Siering was nominated for his work coordinating faculty development programs, including instruction on the pedagogical and technical uses of Blackboard for online teaching. He is responsible for the organization and implementation of the Teaching and Learning Academy, a professional development initiative that includes 43 faculty-led seminars, Alpha and Alpha/Beta teaching seminars (for first- and second-year faculty members), instructional technology workshops, lunchtime discussions, and reading groups. The Academy is based on an integrated curriculum that encourages in depth and longitudinal development of five basic domains essential to expert teaching for online and on-campus teaching.

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