Pictured, from left, Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Jacqueline Goldman and Elementary Education Instructor Nicole Spinks have been named Delta State’s 2020 Student Engagement Educator Award winners. Fostering student engagement in a virtual world can be challenging, but two Delta State University faculty members have been recognized for going the extra mile.
The DSU Office of Information Technology recently recognized Assistant Professor of Psychology Jacqueline Goldman and Elementary Education Instructor Nicole Spinks as the 2020 Student Engagement Educator Award winners.
DSU students were asked throughout the month of October to nominate faculty members who have gone above and beyond through the use of technology to positively impact their educational experience this year at Delta State.
A total of 179 nominations recognizing 89 faculty members was received. The winners were selected based on the total number of nominations and were recognized Oct. 30 in a video distributed to faculty by Chief Information Officer Dr. Edwin Craft.
“This is a semester like no other we’ve had and the spring semester will be different from what we’re used to as well. Your nominations tell us that you’ve gone above and beyond to help students feel connected and engaged,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Charles McAdams during the virtual event.”
Students were very candid in their submissions highlighting faculty members.
“This instructor has gone above and beyond to make her students feel safe and understood,” wrote one student of Goldman, “She uses PowerPoint, Zoom, articles, and extra videos that allow us to learn the material in different ways.”
“She has taught us about so many other materials and technological resources that real teachers use,” commented another student about Spinks. “The information will help us in the real world of teaching.”
McAdams noted that awards were renamed to highlight the importance of student engagement in the educational experience.
“Engagement is important because students learn by doing. Engagement includes students being engaged with (faculty), engaged with each other and engaged with the subject matter. When they’re engaged, they learn,” McAdams said.
“Thank you for all of the extra work, all of the extra effort and all of the extra time you have put in to help our students’ experience be the best that it could be during these unusual times.”
To view the 2020 Student Engagement Educator Awards video presentation, click HERE.
