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DSU Math Professor Liza Bondurant Wins WileyPLUS Nexty Award for Best Overall Course

Dr. Liza Bondurant, assistant professor of math at Delta State University, received the 2018 WileyPLUS Nexty Award for Best Overall Course for higher education.

The awards, created by the research and education publishing company Wiley in 2018, are about “recognizing customers for exceptional use of digital course resources,” according to press materials. Bondurant’s category included four means of evaluation: course design, assessment, integration of adaptive practice, and overall usage metrics.

She “provides clear objectives and a thorough description of WileyPLUS in her syllabus,” the judges stated. “Her approach to project-based learning requires that students engage in multiple ways (working through problems, completing three math projects, and reading assessments),” and her “application demonstrated a visible willingness to respond and adjust instruction based on class needs.”

Bondurant said she is honored by the recognition her online course received from Wiley and how her implementation of different learning methods and communication across multiple platforms, such as Canvas, WileyPLUS, and Zoom, led to the award.

“Why they selected me was because of the variety of experiences the students have in the course as far as there’s discussion, homework, video lectures, and then there’s face-to-face lectures,” Bondurant said of her Math Through Problem Solving course. “Utilizing all their resources is what makes it so great.”

That made sense to Dr. Ellen S. Green, chair of the Division of Mathematics and Sciences at Delta State. “She is so dedicated to teaching and incorporating technology into her courses. This award was so truly deserved; our math and science unit is thrilled for her,” Green said.

As a bonus, Bondurant received a trip to Charleston, S.C., paid by Wiley, and a stay at a five-star hotel to receive her award.