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June 10, 2008
2008 R1edu Award for Contributions to Online Learning presented to University of Washington expert on addiction and the brain
Dr. Akira Horita integrates cutting edge research with the latest interactive techniques to create an innovative online certificate program
2008 R1edu Award winner announced
Additional models for best practices in online learning
About the R1edu Award
About the R1edu consortium
About UW Educational Outreach
2008 R1edu Award winner announced
Dr. Akira Horita, University of Washington (UW) Professor of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, has received the 2008 R1edu Award for Distinguished Faculty Contributions to Online Learning. The award recognizes his work in effectively integrating cutting-edge research into a highly interactive online certificate program, Advanced Research in Addiction and the Brain, administered by UW Educational Outreach. Presented annually, the R1edu Award acknowledges innovative and stellar work of faculty in online learning at member institutions of the R1edu consortium, an organization of more than 30 top U.S. research universities.
Developed with grant funds from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the UW certificate program in Advanced Research in Addiction and the Brain is designed for chemical dependency professionals, K-12 educators, nurses, counselors, social workers, educators in the prison system, members of the judiciary, and lawmakers who deal with issues of substance abuse. It gleans relevant information from current research in the field and translates and modifies it to provide participants with a working knowledge of the neurobiological basis of addiction and the ability to implement approaches from addiction research in their areas of practice. As recognized by the R1edu Award, the program is an example of best practices in development and implementation of a successful online learning program. Hallmarks include:
- Selected materials and electronic resources that effectively impart current research results
- Interaction with online guest research scientists
- Weekly reflection assignments that allow participants to demonstrate how well they understand and can apply the knowledge they gain each week to real-world situations on the job
- Weekly quizzes to evaluate participant understanding
- Student discussions for sharing opinions, knowledge and applications to their practice with their classmates
- Pre- and post-program reflections to assess the extent to which the program changed understanding of addiction and drug abuse
- An invitation for feedback to continually enhance the program to meet audience needs
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Additional models for best practices in online learning
Past R1edu Award winners have provided additional models for success in online learning. The 2007 award went to Dr. Jan Miernowski, a faculty member in the department of French and Italian at University of Wisconsin at Madison, for creation of the course, French and Italian Renaissance Literature Online. Designed to simulate a journey through the region and its time led by a group of faculty guides, the course employs the latest interactive tools to train students in advanced interpretation of artistically complex and ideologically multilayered texts.
Dr. John Wedman, director of the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies in the College of Education at the University of Missouri-Columbia, won the award in 2006 for creating the university's first fast-track online master's program. The one-year online program in Educational Technology offers condensed courses in an 8-week format. In 2005, Dr. Craig Tapley, professor in the Warrington College of Business, was recognized for his pioneering role at the University of Florida. By restructuring course content and utilizing WebCT VISTA, he moved his class Web presence from "Web site as filing cabinet" to "Web site as virtual classroom," where context, community, and collaborative learning enhance the student experience.
For more information on the R1edu Award for Distinguished Faculty Contributions to Online Learning, please see the Web site at www.r1edu.org/awards.asp. A call for nominations is issued by email to designated representatives of R1edu member universities each spring. Contact Dave Szatmary, vice provost, University of Washington Educational Outreach, at dszatmary@extn.washington.edu.
Founded in 1999, R1edu is a consortium of more than 30 top U.S. research universities that pool their resources and knowledge to provide access to distance learning classes and reference materials. The consortium's website at www.r1edu.org allows students to search classes and programs by subject, type, or institution. Participating institutions are members of the Carnegie Foundation and of the prestigious Association of American Universities.
UW Educational Outreach is the continuing and professional education division of the University of Washington, the nationally recognized public research institution based in Seattle. Helping the schools, colleges, and departments to administer evening master's degrees, certificate programs, distance and online learning, international outreach and English language programs, and more, UWEO is one of the largest and most highly regarded continuing and professional education programs in the U.S. (more information at www.outreach.washington.edu/uweo).