Each year NWACC (Northwest Academic Computing Consortium) sponsors an "Innovation in Educational Technologies" award to recognize "instructional technologists (or technology teams) who have displayed innovation in the design, development, and/or support of instructional technologies." And this year PLU's Professor Tony Finitsis (Assistant Professor, Department of Religion) and Nick Butler (Digital Media Developer) have won the award to recognize their work on the PLU Hebrew Idol project!
In case you're not familiar with it, the PLU Hebrew Idol competition is an educational event relying heavily on the use of digital media. It requires a) video production and film editing workshops, b) design of logos and graphics, c) creation of a website, and d) a secure, authenticated online ballot that determines the top-three videos. The top three student videos compete live before a panel of judges and a live audience. Staging of the finale requires the creation of new short videos to support and enhance the event. The Digital Media Center provides instructional technology support to make this event possible.
The Innovation in Educational Technologies award is based on the following judging criteria:
- Innovation - the degree to which the program is innovative in its use of technology and its potential to inspire new ideas and practices
- Collaboration - the degree to which the program exemplifies collaboration and/or uses of collaborative tools
- Effectiveness - evidence that the program is improving student learning and engagement
- Transferability - evidence that the program can be repeated in other institutions or settings
- Scalability - if the project was a pilot program, can it be scaled for a larger context?
In the words of the NWACC selection committee:
"Not only do I feel that it was innovative but I also think it conveys the value of a skill set that is becoming increasingly critical in our society (Video). What a great way to throw some life into studying Hebrew. And I love how they have been able to connect to the rest of campus."
and
"The PLU effort may actually change the views of colleagues in the humanities more quickly than any top-down strategy. If this can work for the Hebrew Bible course, one might say, then wow just imagine if I did this in my _____________ (fill in the blank) course!"
Tony and Nick will receive a certificate and check for $500. And they will present their Hebrew Idol project at a plenary session of the NWACC Instructional Technologies Roundtable in Portland on November 3.
For videos and more information about the Hebrew Idol project visit:
http://www.plu.edu/~dmc/gallery/home.html
For the full nomination text see:
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