Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Beth Gazza and Beth Oyarzun have been recognized for their innovation in online learning by the Online Learning Consortium.

At the November OLC conference in Orlando, Gazza, an associate professor in the School of Nursing, and Oyarzun, an instructional designer in the Office of eLearning, will receive an Effective Practice Award, which highlights the practices that help make quality online education accessible and affordable.

The award recognizes UNCW’s RN to BS in Nursing program, an accelerated online program that includes a leadership and management practicum.

“Receiving this level of recognition from the OLC confirms that Dr. Oyarzun and I have designed and delivered a quality online course where students can apply what they are learning to real-life experiences in nursing leadership,” said Gazza. "The award also provides us with the opportunity to share our success at UNCW in the areas of online teaching and learning with the global community."

Jess Boersma, director of ETEAL, commended Gazza and Oyarzun for their excellence in providing applied learning online experiences for future leaders in nursing. “This a great example of an innovative and collaborative ETEAL project that has now become part of the curriculum,” he said. 

Gazza and Oyarzun also plan to present at this year’s OLC Conference. The consortium is the leading professional organization devoted to advancing quality online learning by providing professional development, instruction, best practice publications and guidance to educators, online learning professionals and organizations around the world.

“Dr. Gazza and I are honored to be presented with such a prestigious award and equally proud to represent UNCW to receive the award and present our effective practice project at the OLC conference in November,” said Oyarzun.

Beth Gazza, associate professor in the School of Nursing

Beth Oyarzun, instructional designer in the Office of eLearning

--Venita Jenkins
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