The Sakai Foundation, a non-profit that works toward the use of open-source software for education, recently announced the winners of their Teaching with Sakai Innovation Award (TWSIA).
In a press release, Josh Baron, chair of the Sakai Foundation board said, “Sakai exists to support exceptional technology-enhanced teaching, learning and research.”
Here’s what the winners accomplished with the combination of collaborative, open-source technology and internet speed:
In first place was Dr. Scott Bowman, who used a wiki to connect theory with reality throughout his Juvenile Justice course at Texas State University, San Marcos.
The second place award winner was Dr. Sally Knipe, who, also using a wiki, assessed and debated two design theories: social cultural theory and constructive alignment.
“The Sakai tools provide an incredible opportunity to engage the students in an experience that deepens their learning, beyond the theory and beyond initial presumptions,” explained Dr. Bowman. “The greatest challenge was stepping away from the paradigm of a safely prepped class into a technologically constructed, semester long project that would bring theory, practice and experience together for the students in a very personal way. The technology tools have created incredible advances in my course.“
The award is sponsored by IBM, whose Vice President for IBM Education Industry, Michael King, said, “We are so pleased that [this award] has led to not only recognition of excellence, but sharing, collaboration and enhancement of teaching practices across the higher education community. IBM is both proud and honored to contribute to this important effort.”