After a year of virtual and hybrid learning, the creative use of technology in the teaching and learning process is becoming the “new normal.” WVU faculty members continue to adapt to online learning environments across disciplines, providing students with deeper and more engaging learning opportunities. With their innovative efforts, our faculty are shaping what the future of learning looks like.
To celebrate excellence and innovation in digital learning across the University, the Office of the Provost and West Virginia Public Education Collaborative announce the third annual faculty Digital Learning Awards. Recipients will be honored with a professional development honorarium of $500.
The 2021 Digital Learning Award recipients include:
Matthew Heap, assistant professor of Composition and Theory, College of Creative Arts: Wrote and designed a gaming app using the Unity gaming-creation system to engage students in learning the fundamentals and advanced topics of music theory.
Graham Andrews, assistant professor of Geology, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences: Enabled dynamic geology lab work by creating a database of 3D mineral and rock samples with Sketchfab for students to explore their hypotheses and run tests.
Susan Jennings Lantz, teaching associate professor in Marketing, John Chambers College of Business and Economics: Encouraged international storytelling between WVU students and Bharani women in business using Lonely Planet Trips to creatively document and share experiences.
Kimberly Floyd, associate professor of Child Development and Family Studies, College of Education and Human Services: Combined digital editing tools, like Voki Avatars and VoiceThread, in a course on trauma and resilience in children to give students the opportunity to understand and support these children, even during the pandemic.
WVU’s faculty Digital Learning Awards are inspired by National Digital Learning Day, which was established in 2012 by the Alliance for Excellent Education and inspired by a digital learning challenge day at Mountainview Elementary School in Morgantown. Digital Learning Day celebrates instructional practices that effectively use technology to strengthen a student’s learning experience, emphasizing high-quality instruction and access to challenging content to ensure all students reach their full potential to succeed in college and a career.
WVU is the earliest official higher education supporter of Digital Learning Day, an event championed by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative, which is committed to advancing public schools from early childhood through higher education.
Learn more about all of WVU’s faculty awards on the WVU Faculty website. Continue to watch ENEWS for additional award announcements.