Last modified: Monday, May 8, 2006
IU Bloomington geologist rewarded for teaching excellence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Despite having once told Indiana University's Research & Creative Activity magazine, "I tend to be a little leery of technology," IU Bloomington structural geologist Jeremy Dunning makes liberal -- and effective -- use of technology in his classes.
Now the professor of geological sciences has received two awards from the International Conference on College Teaching and Learning for bringing technology to traditional classroom activities.
The International Conference on College Teaching and Learning honored Dunning with its 2006 Award for International Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology at the group's 17th annual meeting in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., last month. Conference organizers specifically cited Dunning's course, "Our Planet and Its Future," as effectively integrating Web information and lectures. The course Web page is at https://www.indiana.edu/~geol116 .
Conference members also gave Dunning the 2006 Ernest L. Boyer Award, which honors Dunning's effectiveness as an educator.
Boyer, a former chancellor of the State University of New York and U.S. Commissioner of Education, was a widely respected educator. He was elected president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 1979 and served in this capacity until his death in 1995. In 1990, Boyer was named "Educator of the Year" by U.S. News & World Report, and in 1994 he was awarded the Charles Frankel Prize in the Humanities, a U.S. presidential citation.
"The beauty of technology to me is that it allows a professor to create an instructional environment outside of the classroom in which students may learn at their own pace, in their own learning style through immersive multimedia exercises, simulations, virtual reality exercises, and critical thinking case studies," Dunning said. "While it means a fair amount of extra work, it is well worth it and makes teaching and taking the class more interesting and engaging."
Dunning brings technology to teaching in a way that improves students' geology education.
Dunning received a $5,000 cash award for each honor, and he will be given the opportunity to help select future Boyer Award winners.
"Dr. Dunning has been an innovative and creative teacher ever since he joined IU some 30 years ago," said IUB Geological Sciences Chair Abjhibit Basu. "He has motivated uncountable students in the pursuit of knowledge and inquiry. Most importantly, he has kept ahead of all technological advances to capture the imagination and curiosity of young minds in his teaching. I am very pleased but not surprised by the accolades Jeremy has received and will continue to receive."
Dunning previously won the Alfred Sloan Foundation Sloan-C Best Practices Award (2003), the ACHE Novel Use of Technology Award (2004), the ICI Gold Medal (2003), three Envisage New Media awards for his CDROM In-Terra Active (1995), and three best paper awards at international conferences on teaching and learning. He was the 1996 Distinguished Fellow at the Agency for Instructional Technology and was the 1986 Hearst Distinguished Lecturer at the University of California at Berkeley.
To speak with Dunning, please contact David Bricker, IU Media Relations, at 812-856-9035 or brickerd@Indiana.edu.
