Dr. Larysa Nadolny was named a winner of a Blackboard Catalyst Award for Exemplary Course Program, which recognizes faculty and course designers from schools, colleges and universities around the world who develop exciting and innovative courses that represent the very best in technology and learning. Not only was Larysa’s course chosen to receive an Exemplary Course Award, but it was also named a Directors’ Choice for Courses with Distinction, an honor awarded to a select group of courses that stand out even from other winning entries.

Part of the annual Blackboard Catalyst Awards program since 2000, the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program Award highlights technologically rich, engaging, well designed, and pedagogically sound courses that showcase best practices for the user community. Over 200 entries were evaluated in a rigorous peer-review process by more than 300 faculty and instructional designers. Submissions were judged on the following components: course design, interaction, collaboration, assessment and learner support.

The Blackboard Catalyst Awards program annually recognizes and honors innovation and excellence in the Blackboard global community of practice, where teachers and learners work every day to redefine what is possible when leveraging technology. 

It has been quite a long winter in Iowa and across the country, and I'm finally seeing signs of good things to come!  Besides being able to see grass for the first time in months, other good events are "springing" up everywhere:

1. I presented on Layar with one of my former students at the Annual Iowa Extension and Outreach conference.  It was great to work with Brenda as a colleague and benefit from her expertise with Clover Kids.
2. I am part of a collaboration between Clover Kids and Reiman Gardens to create an interactive print document on Butterflies.  There is so much energy in our group and the document is already looking amazing.
3. I was awarded the College of Human Sciences Early Achievement in Teaching Award.  Quite an honor for me with something that I love to do - teach!

It is official!  SciEthics Interactive has been announced as a finalist for the Federal Virtual Worlds Challenge sponsored by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory.  The winners in each category will be announced at GameTech 2012.

I've been honored to be nominated for the Virtual Excellence Awards 2011 due to my work in virtual environments. Take a moment and vote for me at http://awards.associationofvirtualworlds.com/555/ (refresh the page if you can't click on the stars).

I am proud to announce that I am a recipient of the HP Innovation Fund Grant for 2011.  The project, Global Expansion of SciEthics Interactive through the HP Catalyst, supports the expansion of my current research project in multiple universities around the world.  To learn more, go to the award website.