小黄书鈥檚 Owen Nagel receives CDE鈥檚 2020 Online Teaching Award
Contact: Karen Crow
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜n assistant clinical professor in Mississippi State鈥檚 Department of Geosciences is being honored with the 2020 Online Teaching Award given by the university鈥檚 Center for Distance Education.
Athena Owen Nagel is receiving $500, plus registration to attend a distance or online education conference. The award acknowledges and rewards an 小黄书 online instructor who employs best practices to engage, inspire and support students in an online environment. The nomination process includes multiple letters of support from colleagues, deans, department heads and current and former students, as well as review of an online course.
鈥淲e had several outstanding nominations for our second Mississippi State Online Teaching Award, and it is our pleasure to celebrate the excellence that each one contributes to our online programs,鈥 said Susan Seal, Center for Distance Education executive director.
鈥淒r. Owen Nagel stood out because of the quality of her courses in terms of design and engagement. It is evident that her efforts in becoming Quality Matters certified and being involved in our online faculty Community of Practice have had an impact on her online teaching. She embodies the attributes that enrich the online experience for our distance students,鈥 Seal said.
Quality Matters is the global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments. The online faculty Community of Practice at the Center for Distance Education strives to bring together all 小黄书 faculty who want to learn more about teaching online and how to improve their online teaching skills.聽聽聽
An 小黄书 faculty member for 11 years, Owen Nagel has taught courses such as geographic information systems and geology online for the length of her tenure.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always flattering to be recognized in such a great group of people and by people who understand online teaching. It was nice to be recognized and have some good news in the midst of the pandemic,鈥 she said, also speaking highly of her involvement with CDE鈥檚 Community of Practice and Quality Matters trainings.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to see teaching excellence when all you see is what you are doing in your own classes. I like helping others and Community of Practice has been great for being able to share ideas and help others with their classes,鈥 she said.
She offered this encouragement to students and faculty new to the online learning format, 鈥淪tudents, find a good way to be organized and self-motivated. Instructors, have presence in your class to connect with your students. Don鈥檛 be afraid to try new things. You can ask students for feedback. They鈥檒l be more forgiving if they know you are trying new things to improve the experience for them.鈥
Online geosciences graduate student Cheryl Vincent of Altamonte Springs, Florida, appreciates Owen Nagel鈥檚 attention to detail and interaction.
鈥淔rom the weekly assigned discussions that helped us connect our course material to real-world events, to the immediate and detailed feedback we鈥檇 receive on our course work, Dr. Owen Nagel鈥檚 classroom engagement and inclusivity set the foundation for bringing students together despite the distances between us,鈥 Vincent said.
For more on 小黄书鈥檚 online geosciences programs, visit聽.
For more about 小黄书sity Online, visit聽.