WesternOnline is pleased to announce the WesternOnline Awards, a collection of honors that celebrate achievements in online teaching and learning. The Awards allow online faculty to receive recognition for their efforts in designing intentional and meaningful learning experiences. Awards criteria are tied to the WesternOnline Indicators, a series of research-based best practices that have been developed specifically for Western.
Applications due: Thursday, May 25th at 11:59 PM
Award recipients will:
- Receive a $300 stipend
- Have their course/course element exemplar linked to and shared on the WesternOnline Faculty Resources website in alignment with the WesternOnline Indicators.
- Present their exemplar during a virtual panel session with fellow WesternOnline Award recipients
Eligibility Requirements: Faculty teaching an approved online course. Applying for an award does not guarantee selection.
Award application requirements:
- Determine whether you are nominating a course or course module or a specific course element (e.g. an assignment, course resource or material, orientation video, etc.).
- Provide a link to your course/course element in Canvas (optional: upload a document as part of your application).
- Select from the list of specific WesternOnline Indicators related to the award you are applying to (these vary based on the award).
- Provide an explanation of how your course/course element meets your selected Indicators, its impact on student learning, achievement, participation, and/or belonging, and why it should receive the WesternOnline Award you are applying to (using examples).
NOTE: If you are nominating a course, it will require you to provide explanations of specific areas for our evaluators to focus on. - Select the institutional “Core Themes” that are best represented in your course/course element.
Nominate a faculty colleague!
Do you know a Western faculty who does exceptional work teaching online or developing online learning opportunities? Nominate a colleague to encourage them to apply for a WesternOnline Award!
Western Online Awards Categories
WesternOnline Award for Inclusive Course Design
Recognizes faculty who build a course or a course element that reflects accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) to enhance student achievement, participation, and/or belonging. This award will go to courses/course elements that address the WesternOnline Indicators aligned with ADEI themes (see application).
WesternOnline Award for Excellence in Student Engagement
Celebrates courses or course elements that represent the use of best practices in providing students opportunities to participate in online learning in meaningful and enriching ways through a variety of methods. This award is tied to the WesternOnline Indicators aligned with student engagement (see application).
WesternOnline Award for Outstanding Online Course Orientation
Celebrates the creation and implementation of an orientation module or course component that enhances the student experience and contributes to their understanding of the expectations, activities, in the context of a welcoming online course environment. This award is tied to the WesternOnline Indicators aligned with Orientation (see application).
WesternOnline Award for Best Practices in Online Course Design
Recognizes efforts made in the creation of courses or course elements that exemplify the use of best practices in online course design not already be capture in other awards. Select from up to 10 specific WesternOnline Indicators that reflect the course/course element in the application. Example: a Canvas module that aligns with the Alignment and Mapping Indicators.
Questions?
Reach out to WesternOnline@wwu.edu for more information about the WesternOnline Awards.
