Date: July 27, 2007
Contact: Lindsay Gladstone
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: l-gladstone@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, IL, July 27, 2007 – Jan Engle of Monee understands that the interaction between teacher and student is one of the most important components of any classroom situation. As an instructional designer for the Governors State University Center for Online Teaching, Engle considers this component in every online course she creates.
Her ability to integrate student interaction, assessment, and learner support in the courses she designs recently garnered Engle the Greenhouse Exemplary Course Program award for her course “Introduction to Online Teaching.” The course, which is taught fully online, is one of four courses designed by Engle as part of the university’s Certificate in Online Teaching program.
Blackboard, Inc. a course management system provider, sponsors the awards program. The award is given to online courses that are reviewed by more than 100 judges and that meet specific and rigorous academic and technological criteria. This year’s presentation took place at a conference in Boston in July at which Engle also presented a poster session focusing on her winning course.
“It is a difficult award to win as you must fulfill the criteria for an exemplary course,” said Engle. “Teaching online poses specific challenges. A good online course addresses these challenges and becomes a rich and engaging place to learn.”
“At Governors State University, we are committed to offering the best online learning opportunities. We are very proud of Jan and the work she does in creating these excellent courses,” said John Stoll, Dean of the University College at GSU.
This is the second Greenhouse Exemplary Course Program award Engle has received. She won last year for her course, Introduction to Online Learning.
According to Engle, effective online teaching involves the combination of good teachers with an understanding of technology and a thoroughly developed online course.
“I enjoy creating good online courses and I enjoy teaching them,” said Engle. “It is a great way to provide educational opportunities to more students.”
For more information about the Certificate in Online Teaching and other online programs at Governors State University, call (708) 534-4099 or visit www.govst.edu/sxl.
