Susan Tancock, Ball State professor of elementary education, won the Rawlings Outstanding Distance Education Teaching Award in the School of Extended Education for her work with online courses for the master's degree in education.
In 2003, Tancock was the first Ball State faculty member to teach an online course.
Tancock said while creating online courses from the ground up has been difficult, it has been worth it.
"Creating online courses has been really hard," she said. "It has been really rewarding, but difficult work."
The program started with two online courses. Since then, 20 classes have been made available, and the number of students enrolled in the master's has risen from 63 students to 700.
Tancock exclusively teaches online now, and the department has followed her lead and teaches online only as well. She has created seven online courses, and she taught five last year.
The Rawlings award is given each year to a teacher who is the most dedicated toward the distance learning program, which includes teaching through television, at remote locations off campus and online. The award is named after Joseph Rawlings, the dean emeritus of School of Education, who created the distance education program.
Karen Ford, associate professor of elementary education, said in a statement that Tancock deserved the award.
"I consider her to be an expert with authentic knowledge paired for a desire of continual growth," Ford said. "She is always in the forefront of technology issues."
Tancock said she wasn't expected the recognition when she was told about the award.
"When I got back and my colleagues told me, I was so surprised. I did not expect it," Tancock said. "I'm just really glad the university acknowledges the hard efforts of teaching online."
Read More
Center for Peace offers academic opportunities
By Meghan Braddy and Grayson Joslin / 12 minutes agoOver the years, the center has offered a peace studies minor, conflict resolution training and grant funding.
The eyes and ears of the David Owsley Museum of Art
By Madelyn Bracken / 12 minutes agoThe David Owsley Museum of Art (DOMA) doesn’t only house art. For many Ball State University students, it houses opportunity. Graduate and social media assistant, and former DOMA intern and guard, Taylor Hamblin spent the past two years working at the museum surrounded with possibilities to further her career while at Ball State.
AP: New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 conviction
By Staff Reports / 21 minutes agoNew York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with “egregious” improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case, according to the Associated Press (AP).
