Learn from Anywhere Creativity & Spirit Awards
The move to remote teaching in March 2020 and the transition to the Learn from Anywhere (LfA) framework in September 2020, has been an extraordinary time for Boston University faculty, staff, and students. Our faculty had to adapt to challenging new teaching modalities and methodologies, while also dealing with unfamiliar technologies and many students who were under stress. Yet, despite all these challenges, several saw an opportunity to try something new and serve our students by making creative use of the new constraints and taking advantage of the new possibilities of remote and hybrid LfA teaching.
Our faculty’s efforts were assisted and supported by faculty coaches and classroom moderators, many of whom went above and beyond in helping make sure that faculty would be well prepared and that class sessions would run smoothly.
Overview
In recognition of the creativity and resilient spirit exhibited by BU faculty, graduate student instructors, faculty coaches, and student classroom moderators during the LfA experience, Digital Learning & Innovation is proudly sponsoring Learn from Anywhere Creativity & Spirit Awards for the academic year 2020-21.
The Learn from Anywhere Creativity & Spirit Awards, managed by the Center for Teaching & Learning, will acknowledge outstanding contributions during the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters.
Nominations will be accepted in two rounds:
- The deadline for Fall 2020 nominations is 5pm on Friday, January 22, 2021.
- The deadline for Spring 2021 nominations is 5pm on Monday, April 12, 2021.
Awards announcement: DL&I’s Spring 2021 Faculty Forum virtual conference on Monday, May 10, 2021
Although we will review applications for the Fall 2020 semester in January-February, we will not make decisions about the awards until the applications for the Spring 2021 semester have closed. Learn more via the FAQ below.
Categories include:
Instructor Category
One remote Teaching LfA Award $2000
One Hybrid Teaching (simultaneous remote and in-class meetings) LfA Award $2000
Graduate Student Category
One remote Teaching LfA Award $2000
One Hybrid Teaching (simultaneous remote and in-class meetings) LfA Award $2000
Faculty Coach Category
Two LfA Awards of $1000 to be given
Student Classroom Moderator Category
Two LfA Awards of $500 to be given
Nomination Forms
Self-Nomination: LfA Teaching Awards
Who Should Use This Form? Full-and part-time instructors and graduate student instructors interested in nominating themselves under this category.
Purpose: Recognizing teaching that has made a significant positive impact on the learning experiences of BU’s students by exhibiting creativity in leveraging the new possibilities and/or resourcefulness in overcoming the constraints of a fully remote or hybrid LfA class in Fall 2020 or Spring 2021.
(Fully) Remote Teaching LfA Award
- One award of $2000 will be made at the faculty level (full-time or part-time instructors)
- One award of $2000 will be made at the graduate student level (as instructors of record)
Hybrid Teaching LfA Award
- One award of $2000 will be made at the faculty level (full-time or part-time instructors)
- One award of $2000 will be made at the graduate student level (as instructors of record)
Nominate an Instructor: LfA Teaching Awards
Who Should Use This Form? Anyone in the BU community—faculty, graduate students, staff, administrators, and/or students—interested in nominating full-and part-time instructors and graduate student instructors for an LfA Teaching Award.
Purpose: Recognizing teaching that has made a significant positive impact on the learning experiences of BU’s students by exhibiting creativity in leveraging the new possibilities and/or resourcefulness in overcoming the constraints of a fully remote or hybrid LfA class in Fall 2020 or Spring 2021.
Note: Upon receipt of this nomination, the Awards Committee will reach out to your nominee on your behalf and ask them if they would like to submit a self-nomination application. Please give your nominee plenty of time to prepare their application by submitting your nomination as early as you can before the deadline.
Faculty Coaches
Who should use this form? Instructors (full-time, part-time, or graduate student instructors), staff, or administrators who have worked closely with the faculty coach/es and observed their work.
Purpose: Recognizing Faculty Coach contributions that made a significant impact on the teaching experiences of colleagues in Fall 2020 or Spring 2021
Two awards of $1000 each will be made to recognize outstanding contributions by faculty coaches
Student Classroom Moderator Category
Who should use this form? Instructors (full-time, part-time, or graduate student instructors) or staff who have worked closely with the moderator and observed him/her/them in the classroom.
Purpose: Recognizing Student Classroom Moderator contributions that made a significant impact on teaching and learning experiences during Fall 2020 or Spring 2021.
Two awards of $500 each will be made to recognize outstanding contributions by student moderators
Nomination Process FAQ
When do I need to submit my application?
Why are there two deadlines for applications?
Can I nominate myself?
I am a student in a current class; may I nominate my instructor?
Are the awards only for individuals?
Where can I find the nomination forms?
What are the criteria for the teaching awards?
What materials do I need to submit for the teaching award?
What are the criteria for the faculty coach awards?
If I wish to nominate a faculty coach, what materials do I need to submit?
What are the criteria for the student classroom moderator awards?
If I wish to nominate a student classroom moderator, what materials do I need to submit?
How will the nominations be evaluated?
When will I find out if I have received an award?
Questions?
Please reach out to the Center for Teaching & Learning at ctl@bu.edu with LfA Creativity and Sprit Awards in the subject line.
