Awards
Staying Ahead of the Digital Teaching Curve
I have thirty years experience teaching in-person, hybrid, and online. I have developed techniques including the use of material objects, digital technologies, flip-the-classroom, democratic learning, individualized syllabus, independent learning, business simulations, alternative assessments, active learning, and games. I have the ability to make learning exciting and for subjects to come alive.
At area Business Schools I have trained in, implemented, and demonstrated to others the ways that educators can utilize the newest Smart Classroom digital wireless touch technology. (Pictured here from i3Technologies, Belgium). I could sell these computers - I am in love!
Institutional Support
From 1996-2000, the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology at Illinois State University provided pedagogical, technological and monetary training and support for me to move swiftly and comfortably into digital history.
I attended dozens of workshops given by faculty members and computer information systems specialists to learn all of the creative and practical ways to implement cutting-edge pedagogy and technology into my work as a historian and teacher.
Smart classrooms, grant money, student assistants, and ample access to technology and virtual space helped me to take leaps and bounds and quickly move to giving workshops for my fellow professors and future teachers.
Illinois State University's crucial role in preparing future teachers and its commitment for professors to model multiple pedagogical approaches grounded my innovative uses of technology in democratic, student-based philosophies of digital methodologies.
I was, and continue to be, a sponge learning and absorbing everything I can by my inspiring colleagues.
Grants of Support
I received several monetary grants as well as pedagogical and technological training and support from the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology (previously the Center for the Advancement of Teaching) at Illinois State University.
Faculty Teaching Grants, 1998, 1998, 2000.
Faculty Student Assistant Grants, 1997-2000.
Pedagogy Travel Grant, to present my uses of technology and multimedia digital sources in my teaching at an international conference in collaboration with Dr E. Rae Ferguson, another pioneer in web-based learning, now at the University of Rhode Island.
Recognition by Peers
My extraordinary efforts and success with multimedia pedagogy, digital history, and democratic/multiple intelligence pedagogy received recognition from the faculty at Illinois State University.
The two awards also came with a monetary prize.
University Teaching Initiative, January 2000
One of five teachers among a faculty of over 1,000 to receive a University-wide teaching award for successful and innovative teaching at Illinois State University, 2000. Ranked #1 in the College of Arts and Sciences among professors, nominated for a teaching award and selected by a committee of senior accomplished faculty members, to receive the university-wide Teaching Initiative Award.
Plaque of Recognition
Illinois State University is renowned in America for its excellence in teacher training and for professors across the curriculum modelling innovative and thoughtful pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning.
