Call for Submissions and Programme Information

1. Eligibility Details

All distributed learning and open/distance education projects and institutional projects, including from government, commercial and or industrial sectors, both nationally and internationally, are eligible. Submissions must confirm that:

* Instructional projects are credit or non-credit programs in nature that meet the learning needs of various clienteles. They should demonstrate a relevant and creative approach to the program content and to problems and issues that emerge from the content.
* Projects submitted for consideration must have been completed and/or implemented between 1 January and 31 December prior to conference date.
* Projects include at least one CNIE member that participated in the project. (Submitters who are not already CNIE members can join the organization on or before the deadline date by visiting http://www.cnie-rcie.ca/?q=node/140)

2. Entry Details

* There is no limit to the number of submissions from any one institution or individual.
* Each award will be made to the institution which has submitted the project, with appropriate recognition of the individual who is acting on behalf of the institution.
* The project overview for each award winning submission may be reproduced in CNIE promotional material and posted to the CNIE Web site.
* Each entry may be submitted for ONE Award category only.

Awards of Excellence Criteria

Award for Excellence and Innovation in Instructional Design:

This award is presented to a project that is relevant and contributes to the support of open and distance education within the K-12 and post-secondary sectors, government, commercial and/or industrial sectors. The purpose is to award a project that has demonstrated best practices in instructional design, typically with a special focus on innovative uses of educational media or technology. The award criteria are as follows and the award submission must address the following points to be considered complete:

1. The design is appropriate for the defined learner group.
2. Objectives/learning outcomes are clear.
3. Content is clearly organized, sequenced and integrated.
4. Learner centered activities are clearly identified and consistent with objectives/learning outcomes.
5. Learner-centered use of instructional technology is effective and relevant to objectives and learning outcomes.
6. Opportunities for practice and transfer are presented.
7. Appropriate procedures and criteria for evaluating student progress are consistent with objectives and learning outcomes.

Award for Excellence and Innovation in Partnership/Collaboration:

This award is presented to a project that is relevant and contributes to the support of open and distance education within both the K-12 and the post-secondary sectors. The purpose is to award a project that has demonstrated best practices and innovation in partnership collaboration. To be eligible for the award at least one of the parties is a CNIE member. The partnership organization(s) can be from inside and/or outside of Canada. The award criteria are as follows and the award submission must address the following points to be considered complete:

1. Project goals honour and are sensitive to each participating partner/collaborator's values and objectives.
2. Implementation demonstrates respect of partner/collaborator’s values and objectives.
3. Program(s) and/or infrastructure are pedagogically sound.
4. Benefits are demonstrated in terms of ideas exchange and development of innovative approaches to learning and communication in open and distance education.
5. Evidence of the project’s sustainability is provided.

Award for Excellence and Innovation in Student Services:

This award is presented to a project that is relevant and contributes to the support of open and distance education within both the K-12 and the post-secondary sectors, government, commercial and/or industrial sectors. The purpose is to award a project that has demonstrated best practices and innovation in student services. The award criteria are as follows and the award submission must address the following points to be considered complete:

1. The objectives for providing the new student services are stated and clearly reflect the values and mission of the organization.
2. The new student services are clearly defined.
3. Outcomes advance our understanding of student services in open and distance education.
4. Services effectively support the needs of the targeted student population.
5. Evidence of the project's sustainability is provided.
6. Benefits to the students are demonstrated.
7. Project demonstrates innovative uses of new or existing methods or technologies for supporting students.

Award for Excellence and Innovation in Use of Technology for Learning and Teaching Criteria:

This Award is for demonstrating unique and innovative use of learning technologies to change learning systems in the future for the future.

This Award will be presented to an individual, team, enterprise that has responsibility for developing and/or implementing a unique and innovative learning product or service using existing technology in a new way or using a new form of technology application.

Award Criteria:
Primary nominator must be a CNIE member with a seconder from the institution that supports the award entry. Nominations are submitted in the form of a letter to the Awards director. The nomination letter and supporting documents must contain: name, address, telephone number, e-mail addresses of nominators and nominee, a brief biographical sketch of the nominee and a comprehensive description of the nominee's unique use of technology or innovative technology-based learning product or service.

3. Download Form

The deadline for final submissions to the Awards of Excellence program is 23 February 2009. To access the application forms scroll down to after the text.

To make your online submission:

Please login to the CNIE Web site ( www.cnie-rcie.ca/?q=/user/login). If you have not created an user account you will need to do this first ( www.cnie-rcie.ca/?q=/user/register). Next, please click on Create Content (on the right-hand side of the page), then please click on Awards. On the subsequent screen please complete the fields and include the necessary attachments.

Please send a copy of the entry form by email to:

Carolyn Nobes, Awards Committee Chair, at carolynnobes@eastlink.ca
and
Tim Howard, CNIE Secretariat, at cnie-rcie@cnie-rcie.ca

[ Download Form ]