Deadline: May 7, 2012

Past Award Winners

Application Procedures

BACKGROUND

At the 2010 NCLCA Conference, Julie Redmond, Assistant VP for Academic Support at Columbia College Chicago, suggested to the NCLCA Board an idea for a new award to recognize innovative use of technology for learning centers. The Board very much liked the idea and decided to postpone a call for nominations in 2011 in order to honor two long-time technology innovators for their extremely useful web sites that each had developed as a labor of love of learning. Lucy MacDonald (HowtoStudy.org) and Joe Landsberger (Study Guides and Strategies) were the inaugural winners of the NCLCA Innovative Use of Technology Award. Open nominations for this award will be accepted beginning in 2012.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the NCLCA Innovative Use of Technology Award is 1) to recognize individuals, learning centers, or institutions that use innovative technology solutions focused on the learning center to improve student learning, assist learners who may learn differently, improve resource usage, increase student engagement, or enhance learning stratgegies and 2) to encourage proliferation of innovative uses of technology to other learning centers so that students everywhere may benefit.

POTENTIAL AREAS OF TECHNOLOGY

Technology is, of course, rapidly developing, so the following list of newer technologies cannot be considered an inclusive list. Furthermore, the use of older technologies, applied in innovative ways, may also lead to an award.

• Social Media
• Mobile Learning
• Lecture Capture
• Green Technologies
• Virtual Worlds
  
• Podcasting/Blogs/Wikis
• Document Sharing
• Live Communication Systems for Online Support
• Specialized Computer Software

AWARD CRITERIA

The application of technology is related to learning assistance and significantly impacts student learning or learning center operations. The technology solution makes a noteworthy contribution that surpasses previous or current solutions. The technology solution demonstrates a measurable benefit and has the potential to serve as an inspiration or model for further innovation for other learning centers.

PAST AWARD WINNERS

2011- Lucy MacDonald, For the web site: HowtoStudy.org

2011- Joe Landsberger, For the web site: Study Guides and Strategies

APPLICATION PROCEDURES/REQUIREMENTS

• To nominate someone for this award, send an email with the following information in an MS Word attachment to Jenny Pippen, NCLCA Professional Development Officer, at jlpippen@noctrl.edu:

  • A one-page cover sheet with your name, title, address, institution, e-mail, phone number, and title of your innovative use of technology.
  • The impetus for the innovation.
  • The purpose and objectives of the innovation.
  • A description of the innovation and how it is used.
  • The impact that the innovation has made on students or the learning center.
  • Future plans
  • Implications or implementation considerations for other learning centers.

    For more information about the Innovative Use of Technology Award, contact:

    Jenny Pippen, NCLCA Professional Development Officer
    Academic Support
    309 E. School St
    North Central College
    Naperville, IL 60540
    Office (630) 637-5264
    jlpippen@noctrl.edu