Online Learning Innovator Awards

The iNACOL Online Learning Innovator Awards will recognize learning practices, new research and individual achievements in the field. iNACOL will present the four awards at the annual Virtual School Symposium (VSS) on November 9-11, 2011 in Indianapolis, IN, USA. Individuals, schools, districts, states, ministries, research teams, non-profits, and corporations are encouraged to submit nominations.

The four awards given will be:

  • iNACOL Research Award
  • Innovative Online Learning Practice Award
  • Outstanding Individual Contribution to K-12 Online Learning
  • iNACOL/SREB National Online Teacher of the Year

Please read the descriptions, requirements and instructions below to submit your nomination. All submissions must be completed and submitted to awards@inacol.org no later than midnight (EST) October 7, 2011.

Please send any questions to awards@inacol.org. 

Innovative Online Learning Practice Award

Award Description:

The purpose of this award is to recognize a person, school/program, or organization whose innovative practices or policies serve as a model for K-12 online learning and can be replicated by other practitioners. The innovative practice or policy resulted in improving the overall effectiveness, efficiency and success of online learning, ultimately leading to improved student achievement.

Eligibility Criteria:

The innovation results in a "break the mold" practice or policy that has not been routinely implemented across the K-12 online learning industry and serves as a model for other online educators and programs. Nominations will be accepted for individuals, teams, schools/programs, or organizations. This award is targeted to online learning practitioners, not organizations who deliver technology products utilized within the online learning community.

Supporting Materials:

In addition to filling out the nomination form, please submit the following supporting materials:

  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae for the nominee(s) or a profile of the team, school/ program, or organization being nominated if not individual people.
  • A description of the innovation in the context of the situation in which innovation was needed and developed, including a description of the challenge or problem and how the innovation effectively solved that problem. (1-2 pages)
  • Evidence that the policy or practice was truly innovative and replicable. Such evidence could include, but is not limited to:
    1. data that supports an increase in effectiveness, achievement, and efficiency;
    2. testimonials; or evidence that the innovation has been successfully replicated by others in the online learning community

Application Form (.pdf)
Application Form (.doc)

Important Research by an Individual, Team or Organization

Award Description:

The International Association for K-12 Online Learning sponsors an annual competition for dissertation and/or research that advances the field of K-12 online learning. The purpose of the Research Award is to recognize outstanding researchers whose work demonstrates new breakthroughs or replicable advances in the field that promote excellence in online learning and teaching.

Eligibility Criteria:

  1. The nominee may be a student, individual, team, or educational institution that has or will publish research that significantly impacts K-12 online learning.
  2. The nominee's research/dissertation must focus on K-12 online education and learning.
  3. The nominee's research/dissertation must have been completed between July 2010 and August 2011.
  4. The research/dissertation must represent sound scholarship. The knowledge presented and the conclusions drawn must hold promise for the improvement of K- 12 education. (Entries are not limited to a particular kind of research.)

Supporting Materials:

In addition to filling out the nomination, please submit the following supporting materials:

Research/Dissertation summary

  1. The summary must include an introduction, including educational rationale and practical application of the study; problem statement; design; data collection methods; results; conclusions; and a brief bibliography.
  2. The summary should be 1,000 to 1,500 words in length, excluding the bibliography.
  3. The summary must not include identifying information about the author/ researcher or the degree granting institution. Identifying information about subjects or sample populations is permissible.
  4. The bibliography should include only the citations used in the summary.
  5. Letter of endorsement from the chair of the dissertation committee (if applicable)
  6. Curriculum Vitae for the nominee(s) or a profile of the organization or institution being nominated if not individual people.

Application Form (.pdf)
Application Form (.doc)

Outstanding Individual Contribution to K-12 Online Learning

Award Description:

The Outstanding Contribution to K-12 Online Learning Award is made to an individual whose insight and innovation has significantly increased the credibility and advancement of K-12 online learning. The award is a tribute to the individual's outstanding work and leadership in the field of K-12 online learning. This award recognizes an overall body of work, not merely an isolated breakthrough.

Eligibility Criteria:

Any individual who has worked in, or provided support to, the field of K-12 online learning is eligible. The nomination of an individual can be submitted by the individual or by a reference who is able to support the nomination through personal involvement with the nominee.

Supporting Materials:

In addition to filing out the nomination form, please submit the following supporting materials:

  1. A detailed description of the individual's contributions including a description of how the contributions have led to the advancement of K-12 online learning (1-2 pages),
  2. Evidence that the contributions were truly beneficial to the industry. Such evidence could include, but is not limited to:
    1. how stakeholders were positively impacted by the contributions; and
    2. how the contributions were innovative and made actionable with K-12 online learning community.
  3. Curriculum Vitae for the nominee.
  4. A narrative from the nominee describing what they see as their most important contributions/accomplishments, the directions that they see online education heading in the near future, and what they see as the next important challenge to be faced in the field of K-12 online learning (1- 3 pages).

Application Form (.pdf)
Application Form (.doc)

SREB/iNACOL National Online Teacher of the Year (NOTY)

Superintendents * Principals * Program director/managers * Department chairs * Supervisors

The SREB/iNACOL National Online Teacher of the Year Award honors a distinguished online teacher who defines quality teaching in online K-12 education.

Recognizes teachers for excellence through achieving success in an online environment.

Represents online teaching and learning by advocating to education stakeholders.

Relates the award winner's expertise by helping to share knowledge through professional development to teachers.

The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) invite you to nominate a dedicated and highly skilled online teacher who has demonstrated quality and excellence in online teaching.

Criteria for Selection:

The SREB/iNACOL 2012 National Online Teacher of the Year candidate should be an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and highly skilled teacher in an accredited K- 12 online program. The candidate should meet the standards for quality online teaching as noted in the SREB Standards for Quality Online Teaching and the iNACOL National Standards for Quality Online Teaching.

Required Teaching Experience

  • A minimum of 85% of contract time is dedicated to online instruction
  • A minimum of three (3) years of online teaching is required
  • Must be currently teaching online – with the reasonable expectation the online teaching will continue for the following year

The 2012 Finalists will:
The three finalists will attend an SREB Teaching and Learning Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 1, 2012, all-expenses-paid.

The 2012 NOTY will:

  • Participate in NOTY press webinars and interviews as a national advocate for online teaching
  • Present at an all-expenses-paid iNACOL 2012 Virtual School Symposium
  • Present during an SREB and iNACOL webinar
  • Represent online teaching at all-expenses-paid educational events during 2012 reign (15 minimum)
  • Review 2013 NOTY applications (optional)

Application Timeline
August 10 – Call for Nominations
October 17 – Call for Nominations Closes
November 30 – Deadline for National Online Teacher of the Year Applications
January 25 – Finalists Announced
March 1, 2012 – 2012 NOTY Announced

Find nomination details at: www.nationalonlineteacher.org

Nominations for the 2012 Award are due October 17, 2011. Contact onlineteacheraward@sreb.org for more information.

More Information