Online Learning Innovator Awards
The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) is starting a new awards program for innovation in the field of K-12 Online Learning. The Online Learning Innovator Awards will recognize learning practices, new research and individual achievements in the field.
iNACOL will present the three awards at the annual Virtual School Symposium (VSS) on November 15-17, 2009 in Austin, TX, USA. Individuals, schools, districts, states, ministries, research teams, non-profits, and corporations are encouraged to submit nominations.
The three awards given will be:
- Best and Most Innovative Online Learning Practice(s)
- Important Research that Furthers the Advancement of K-12 eLearning
- Outstanding Individual Contribution to K-12 Online Learning
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 September 28, 2009.
Please send any questions to awards@inacol.org.
Award: Outstanding and Most Innovative Online Learning Practice(s)
Award Description: The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual, team, or program whose innovative practices or policies serve as a model for other K-12 online learning institutions.
The innovative practice or policy has resulted in improving the overall effectiveness, efficiency and success of the individual, team, or program, ultimately leading to student achievement.
The innovative practice results in a “breaking 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.
Nomination Requirements: The nomination may be submitted by an individual, team or program that created the innovative practice in K-12 online learning, or by a third party who is aware of such innovation. The submission must describe 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. The nomination submission should include evidence that the policy or practice was truly innovative. Such evidence could include, but is not limited to, data that supports an increase in effectiveness, achievement, and efficiency; testimonials; evidence that the innovation can be successfully replicated by others in the online learning community; etc.
Nomination Deadline: Nomination submissions must be received by iNACOL on or before September 28, 2009. Nominations can be electronically submitted to awards@inacol.org or faxed to: 703-752-6201.
Award: Important Research that Furthers the Advancement of K-12 eLearning
Award Description: This award is for research completed by an individual, team or institution which moves the field of K-12 eLearning forward.
This award is intended to recognize students and/or researchers whose dissertation, research and/or studies in the field of K-12 online learning results in the growth and effectiveness of K-12 online learning.
The research being recognized should foster best practices in K-12 online learning as well as advance the K-12 online learning industry.
Requirements: The nomination may be submitted by an individual, team or program that was responsible for the research into K-12 online learning, or by a third party who is aware of such research, and must describe the research study in detail, including a description of the issue being researched and how the research explored that issue. The nomination submission should include evidence that the research was truly beneficial to the industry. Such evidence could include, but is not limited to, how the research was conducted and subsequently put into action within the K-12 online learning community.
Nomination Deadline: Nomination submissions must be received by iNACOL on or before September 28, 2009. Nominations can be electronically submitted to awards@inacol.org or faxed to: 703-752-6201.
Award Name: 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 development and/or credibility of online learning in general and the effectiveness of an approach or series of particular approaches to distance education in particular.
The award should address a body of work, rather than an isolated breakthrough. There should be a plan to the approach and a vision as to where the approach can be extended. The individual should be able to articulate where the approach fits into the overall scheme of K-12 online education. For instance, does it enhance existing methodologies and/or curricula, or does it break new ground as a new paradigm?
The award is a tribute to contributions of an individual to a given subject, as well as the overall approach to online education as a whole.
Requirements: The nomination may be submitted by an individual who was responsible for the single contribution to K-12 online learning or by a third party who is aware of such a contribution. The submission must describe the contribution in detail, including a description of the contribution, how was it was developed and implemented, and what outcomes resulted from the contribution. The nomination submission should include evidence that the contribution was truly beneficial to the industry. Such evidence could include, but is not limited to, how stakeholders were positively impacted by the contribution and how the contribution was developed and made actionable within the K-12 online learning community.
Nomination Deadline: Nomination submissions must be received by iNACOL on or before September 28, 2009. Nominations can be electronically submitted to awards@inacol.org or faxed to: 703-752-6201.