Award for Excellence in Online/Blended Course Development, Design, and Delivery

Award Description

One award will be presented annually to an individual or team who has designed, developed and delivered an exceptional online/blended course that has had a notable impact on students. The award may be withheld if there is no suitable candidate.

Nominees for this award will be faculty (full-time, limited term, or part-time academics) with a minimum of two years of teaching experience at Dalhousie. 

Individuals/Teams nominated for this Award who teach primarily blended courses may be considered for this award if students and faculty interact in a purposeful combination of online synchronous instruction, online asynchronous instruction, and campus sessions, and have reduced in-person hours. Individuals/Course Teams nominated for this Award who have taught primarily fully online courses may be considered for this award if their course(s) has paid careful attention to instructor presence, and to the interaction between instructor, students, and the course materials, synchronously and/or asynchronously. 

Criteria

Both nominators and evaluators should consider the following criteria that will be weighted equally by the Selection Committee. 

Nominees should provide evidence of (1) outstanding course development, design and delivery in an online and/or blended environment and (2) its impact on students.

The selection committee will give preference to courses that require less resources to be successful and to courses that have more reproducibility in terms of sharing what was learned/created in determining the recipient of the Award.

1. Demonstrated exceptional online/blended course development and design. This could include but not be limited to:
   • Excellent overall design quality for fully online or blended courses that adhere to the Core Principles (accessibility and inclusivity, flexibility, interactivity, clear communication, instructor presence, and supports) outlined on the Online Teaching website, at the undergraduate level and, where relevant, the graduate level
     
   • Incorporation of innovative and evidence-based teaching and learning approaches where possible and appropriate
   • Developing innovative curricula to support diversity, developing cross-cultural competencies, and enhancing the understanding of groups who have experienced historic and ongoing disadvantage and harm
   • Effective and appropriate use of technology including, but not limited to, Dalhousie’s Learning Management System and its associated tools and technologies (e.g., Panopto, Collaborate, Teams, etc.), digital multimedia resources, and effective and appropriate use of Dalhousie’s Library resources and services
   • Utilization of effective and innovative assessment methods that focus on the deep learning of the subject and the development of critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills demonstrated reflective and scholarly practice in teaching and ongoing professional development of teaching
2. Demonstrated notable impact of the course on student learning. This could include but not be limited to:
   • Improved student grades, improved student recruitment/retention, increased course enrollment
   • Positive student feedback, enhanced learning experience evident in student work
   • Evidence of the course approach grounded in relevant literature
   • Evidence that safer spaces were created by implementing innovative and culturally responsive pedagogies that specifically support and enhance diverse student populations’ educational experiences

This award shall normally be awarded once for any single course designed by a specific individual, pair, or team, but may be awarded more than once to a specific individual, pair or team over the course of their career at Dalhousie.

Value of Award

$2000 to the individual or team towards professional development and/or an ongoing or future project related to online and blended teaching and learning.  Recipients will be expected to submit a follow-up report outlining the chosen project.

To be eligible, the award package must be complete and, at a minimum, meet the criteria for the award.

1. Letter of nomination
2. The nominee's abbreviated CV (max. 4,000 words, 12pt, single-spaced, per individual)
3. Course Syllabus
4. A 10-page equivalent of written description with embedded links to online portfolio or Brightspace course sites, images/screenshots OR 8-page written description with guest access to course for committee members which would show homepage and content pages (but no access to student names/work)
   
5. Summary of Student Learning Experience Questionnaire (SLEQ) feedback for the course
6. Two letters of support from current and/or former students
7. Two letters of support from colleagues
8. Additional supporting materials (e.g. student recruitment and retention data, student work additional letters of support, etc.) (max. 10 pages)

Nominators should inform nominees of their nomination, providing nominees with enough time to write and compile the sections of the award file that must be written by the nominee. Nominators should collect and collate all required materials including those written by the nominee and the letters of supports to ensure confidentiality. The nominator is responsible for submitting the award nomination package on or before the deadline. In the case of self-nominations, the self-nominator should seek a colleague to request, collect and submit letters of support on their behalf to ensure confidentiality. This colleague shall submit the letters as a separate electronic file to the Centre for Learning and Teaching.

Eligibility

Nominees for this award will be faculty (full-time, limited term, or part-time academics) with a minimum of two years’ teaching experience at Dalhousie.  Limited-term faculty member’s current position need not be a 12-month appointment. Part-time nominees shall normally be teaching at least one online/blended course at Dalhousie in the term of the nomination. 

Submission of Nomination

Full nomination packages must be submitted as one PDF.  Nominations may be submitted one of two ways:

1. Upload the nomination online
2. Email the nomination to clt@dal.ca

Nominations close each year on January 31.

Selection Committee

• Faculty Senator (elected by SLTC) – who shall chair the committee
• Executive Director, CLT (or designate)
•  (1) Dean or Associate Dean Academic – appointed annually
• (2) Faculty Representatives – appointed annually 
• (1) Student Representative – appointed annually in consultation with the DSU