Online+Innovator+Awards

Assoc. Dir. of Communications (703) 752-6216 wfleming@inacol.org
 * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ** **CONTACT: **Wendy Fleming

**//i //****NACOL Announces Recipients of Second Annual Online [|Innovator Award]s ** Glendale, AZ, November 14, 2010 – The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) is pleased to announce the winners of the second annual iNACOL Online Innovator Awards. The iNACOL Online Learning Innovator Awards recognize innovative learning practices, new research and individual achievements in the field.

The five Online Innovator Awards recognize: 1) Outstanding/Innovative Online Learning Practice for an Individual/Team/Program for a Practitioner, 2) Outstanding/Innovative Online Learning Practice for a Non-Profit or For-Profit Individual or Team 3) Important Research by an Individual, Team or Organization, 4) Important Research by a Student, Team or Educational Institution, and 5) Outstanding Individual Contribution to K-12 Online Learning.

Susan Patrick, President and CEO of iNACOL, said, “We are grateful for the efforts of all of the pioneers in the field of online and blended learning. The innovators recognized today are building new school models in K-12 education with tremendous promise for transforming education for students.”

The winner of the Outstanding/Innovative Online Learning Practice for an Individual/Team/Program for a Practitioner award is Broward Virtual School, which developed an online remedial reading course to offer high school students the ability to extend learning opportunities beyond the school day using distance learning technologies.

The winner of the Outstanding/Innovative Online Learning Practice for a Non-Profit or For-Profit Individual or Team award is Ed Tech Leaders Online (ETLO), a division of Education Development Center (EDC), a project that has “broken the mold” for instructional and professional development planning and delivery. Though the e-Learning for Educators program, ETLO has helped states and stations work together to build sustainable capacity to provide effective online professional development for K-12 teachers.

The winner of the  Important Research by an Individual, Team or Organization award is the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Arizona State University Study called “ Examining the Use of Laboratory Activities in Teaching Science in an Online Environment” by Leanna Archambault, Kent Crippen, and Cynthia Kern.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">The winner of the Important Research by a Student, Team or Educational Institution award is Kathryn Kennedy for her dissertation titled “The Essence of the Virtual School Practicum: A phenomenological study of pre-service teachers’ experiences in a virtual school.”

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">And the winner of the Outstanding Individual Contribution to K-12 Online Learning award is Allan Jordan. Dr. Jordan has made many contributions to K <span style="font-family: 'Cambria Math','serif'; font-size: 11pt;">‐ <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">12 online learning that have significantly impacted many students, educators, and institutions. Dr. Jordan pioneered the development of the Web Academy in Cumberland County school system in Fayetteville, North Carolina, which is now the North Carolina Virtual Public School. Additionally, he was a founding member of NACOL and the first Chairman of the Board. His visionary leadership has led to Granville County Schools launching an online school in 2010.

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//<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">i //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">NACOL is the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, a non-profit 501(c)(3) membership association based in the Washington, DC area with more than 3,700 members. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> ). iNACOL’s mission is to ensure all students have access to world-class education and quality online learning opportunities that prepare them for a lifetime of success. // i // NACOL is unique in that its members represent a diverse cross-section of K-12 education from school districts, charter schools, state education agencies, non-profit organizations, colleges, universities and research institutions, corporate entities and other content and technology providers ( [|www.inacol.org] ). //i//NACOL hosts the annual Virtual School Symposium (VSS). VSS 2010 is being held Nov. 14 – 16, 2010 in Glendale, AZ ( [|www.virtualschoolsymposium.org] ).
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">About //i//NACOL **