Blackboard Catalyst Award – 2020

An Eastern Kentucky University online course created for the Disaster Resilience program has won a 2020 Blackboard Exemplary Course award. Mikah Hughes, an instructional designer with the Office of eCampus Learning, and Dr. Chad Foster, assistant professor in Homeland Security, received the honor for their work on HLS 461 Disaster Resilience. The Exemplary Course Program recognizes instructors and course designers whose courses demonstrate best practices in four major areas: Course Design, Interaction & Collaboration, Assessment, and Learner Support. 

Instructional Designer Mary Henson, Senior Lecturer Patrick Coen and Lecturer James Grogan won for their work on behalf of the EKU Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Instructional Design Center. Many students struggle with mathematics, especially online mathematics. Senior Lecturer Patrick Coen and Lecturer James Grogan bring a passion for math and teaching into every class they teach. Translating this to an online format presented some challenges in organizing and developing supportive content for students learning mathematics asynchronously. In collaboration with EKU’s Instructional Design Center, online course design included video mini-lessons, practice material and lightboard videos. EKU Media Producer Sam Williamson helped create lightboard videos which use EKU’s studio as a transparent chalkboard.

Instructors Patrick Coen and James Grogan are representative of so many great EKU faculty. They are student-centered and they love their subject. Their energy talking about mathematics and strategizing to help more students succeed was incredible. Through consistent design, frequent communication via email and announcements and excellent instruction, the MAT 112 course saw notable improvement in the number of students attaining essential skills in mathematics. 

An Eastern Kentucky University online course created for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program (PMHNP) has won a 2020 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Teaching and Learning. Chris Daniel, an instructional designer with the Office of eCampus Learning worked alongside the PMHNP faculty, which includes Program Coordinator Rachael Hovermale, MSN, ARNP, DNP; Aileen Jones, ARNP-BC; Wanda France, APRN-BC; and Anna “Maurine” Hume.  This award recognizes those who have adopted flexible, distance and online delivery, including using mobile technologies to positively impact the educational experience. The winner will have demonstrated innovative use of the Blackboard platforms, increasing flexibility, furthering learner and instructor effectiveness and efficiency.

Chris says “All our nursing faculty, but especially PMHNP faculty, are experts in their own right. These instructors are adept at assessing and treating a range of psychiatric/mental diseases and disorders and have not only many years of experience, but much respect and credibility in their field. I enjoyed getting to see their thought process regarding teaching as well as how well they transmit their knowledge to students. They take themselves lightly, but the job and subject matter seriously.” 

Faculty Development Program Manager Nedim Slijepcevic and the Instructional Design Center won the Blackboard Catalyst Award for Training and Professional Development, which recognizes organization-wide dedication to innovative practices. Other winners in this category were from Azerbaijan, Mexico and United Arab Emirates